What would you do if one wild surf story could change how you travel, train, and survive in the ocean?

Michael talks with author James Russell about the real spark behind his podcast; Mad Surf Stories - those unforgettable car park conversations where local surfers share the kind of stories that never make the mainstream. From near-death experiences and ocean rescues to fear, aging, flow state, and the lessons hidden inside heavy surf moments, this conversation speaks to anyone who loves the ocean and wants to surf smarter, safer, and longer.

You'll hear how storytelling preserves local surf lore, why surfers should take safety gear more seriously, and what happens when experience, fear, and age all collide in the lineup. James also shares insights from his own surfing life, his writing, and the deeper emotional threads that run through survival stories at sea.

Discover why real surf stories are often the best source of practical wisdom and hard-earned safety lessons You'll learn how fear, preparation, and mindset shape performance in the water, especially as surfers get older. You'll get a deeper appreciation for the psychology, risk, and addictive beauty of surfing and surf culture.

Press play to hear the stories, lessons, and mindset shifts that could help you surf with more awareness, confidence, and respect for the ocean.

James' Podcast "Mad Surf Stories" -

https://podcasts.apple.com/nz/podcast/mad-surf-stories-podcast/id1861306952

https://open.spotify.com/show/4tHYvt9btBdGgB5rwKv0jv?si=e69d777c95bf46cb

https://youtube.com/@madsurfstories?si=BH8FCHs6D_4RADAp

James' website:

https://dragonbrothersbooks.com

Surf Mastery - https://surfmastery.com

The Surf Mastery Podcast:

For the passionate surfer - whether you're a weekend warrior, a surf dad, or an older surfer - this podcast is all about better surfing and deeper stoke. With expert surf coaching, surf training, and surfing tips, we'll help you catch more waves, refine your paddling technique, and perfect your pop up on a surfboard. From surf workouts to handling wipeouts, chasing bigger waves, and mastering surf technique, we're here to make sure you not only improve but truly enjoy surfing more - so you can get more out of every session and become a wiser surfer. Go from Beginner or intermediate Surfer to advanced

https://surfmastery.com/barrel-mastery-academy

What if the reason you can't come out of the barrel has nothing to do with courage or experience, and everything to do with your brain?

Many surfers believe that getting barreled is purely about skill, timing, or bravery. But if you've ever felt disoriented inside the tube, struggled to hold your line, or mysteriously fallen when the exit was right there, the real issue might be neurological. In this episode of the Surf Mastery Podcast, Michael Frampton reveals how vision, balance, and body awareness directly affect your ability to stay stable in the barrel, and why training your brain could transform your surfing.

• Discover why disorientation in the barrel is often a neurological challenge, not a lack of surfing ability.

• Learn practical tube riding techniques that help you stay balanced, compact, and focused on the exit.

• Understand how improving your vision, balance, and proprioception can elevate every aspect of your surfing.

Press play to learn the surprising brain-based insights and practical tips that could finally help you ride out of the barrel.

www.surfmastery.com

The Surf Mastery Podcast:

For the passionate surfer - whether you're a weekend warrior, a surf dad, or an older surfer - this podcast is all about better surfing and deeper stoke. With expert surf coaching, surf training, and surfing tips, we'll help you catch more waves, refine your paddling technique, and perfect your pop up on a surfboard. From surf workouts to handling wipeouts, chasing bigger waves, and mastering surf technique, we're here to make sure you not only improve but truly enjoy surfing more - so you can get more out of every session and become a wiser surfer. Go from Beginner or intermediate Surfer to advanced

What happens when a former White House speechwriter, who's written for presidents and packed auditoriums, decides to humble himself in a cold New Jersey lineup at 35?

David Litt isn't your typical surf author. He joined the Obama White House at just 24 and became one of the youngest senior presidential speechwriters in history, crafting remarks on healthcare, climate change, and even comedy for the Correspondents' Dinner. After publishing Thanks, Obama and Democracy in One Book or Less, he turned his attention to something far less controllable than politics: surfing.

In this episode, David brings a writer's precision to the chaos of learning to surf as an adult, articulating the fear of hold-downs, the shame of kook moments, the obsession with progression, and the addictive pull of those brief, otherworldly flashes of flow. It's a refreshing take for surfers: not from a prodigy, not from a lifelong local, but from someone who can actually put words to what most of us only feel.

3 benefits you'll gain

• A deeper understanding of why surfing feels "more than a sport," and how chasing flow reshapes your mindset in and out of the water.

• Practical perspective on fear, embarrassment, and adult progression, especially if you didn't grow up in the ocean.

• A renewed appreciation for the lineup as neutral ground, where politics, profession, and identity fall away, and only waves (and humility) matter.

Hit play for a thoughtful, funny, and surprisingly relatable conversation that will leave you seeing your own surfing journey, and your next paddle out, in a whole new light.

https://www.davidlittbooks.com

www.surfmastery.com

Barrel Mastery Academy: https://surfmastery.com/barrel-mastery-academy

The Surf Mastery Podcast:

For the passionate surfer - whether you're a weekend warrior, a surf dad, or an older surfer - this podcast is all about better surfing and deeper stoke. With expert surf coaching, surf training, and surfing tips, we'll help you catch more waves, refine your paddling technique, and perfect your pop up on a surfboard. From surf workouts to handling wipeouts, chasing bigger waves, and mastering surf technique, we're here to make sure you not only improve but truly enjoy surfing more - so you can get more out of every session and become a wiser surfer. Go from Beginner or intermediate Surfer to advanced

Are You Really Too Old to Surf - Or Just Believing the Lie?

Feeling slower in the water, stiffer in the joints, or unsure if you've aged out of the sport you love? What if it's not your body that's holding you back, but your mindset?

Surfing is often seen as a young person's sport, but that belief is costing older surfers joy, progress, and freedom. If you've ever felt like your best surfing days are behind you, this episode shows that they might actually still be ahead. Backed by neuroscience and real-world examples, this conversation reframes what's truly possible in your surfing life after 40, 50, and beyond.

What You'll Gain from Listening

• A science-backed mindset shift that shows how the brain can get better with age, leading to smarter wave choices, emotional control, and more satisfying sessions.

• Real stories of aging surfers like Kelly Slater and Laird Hamilton who defy decline, plus insights from The Mature Mind, The Mindful Body, and Gnar Country that expose the myths of aging.

• Practical ways to thrive as an older surfer - from cognitive strategies to physical habits and creative approaches that will reignite your passion and performance.

Press Play If You're Ready to Surf Smarter, Not Slower

Discover how to keep surfing, keep learning, and keep enjoying the ocean, for life.

www.surfmastery.com

Books:

The Mature Mind by Gene Cohen

The Mindful Body by Ellen Langer

Gnar Country by Steven Kotler - or the podcast interview:

https://jamesaltuchershow.com/episode/superpowered-aging-with-the-master-of-flow-steven-kotler

https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id794030859?i=1000679523450

The Surf Mastery Podcast:

For the passionate surfer - whether you're a weekend warrior, a surf dad, or an older surfer - this podcast is all about better surfing and deeper stoke. With expert surf coaching, surf training, and surfing tips, we'll help you catch more waves, refine your paddling technique, and perfect your pop up on a surfboard. From surf workouts to handling wipeouts, chasing bigger waves, and mastering surf technique, we're here to make sure you not only improve but truly enjoy surfing more - so you can get more out of every session and become a wiser surfer. Go from Beginner or intermediate Surfer to advanced

What if mastering the waves has less to do with technique, and more to do with ancient philosophy?

Whether you're paddling out for the first time or carving your hundredth wave, frustration, fear, and unpredictability are always part of the ride. In this episode, host Michael Frampton explores how stoic philosophy offers timeless wisdom that every surfer, beginner or seasoned, can use to improve not only their performance, but their overall surfing life.

• Discover how living "in agreement with nature" is the foundation of both surfing and stoicism, and why resisting the ocean never works.

• Learn how the four stoic virtues, courage, temperance, justice, and wisdom - naturally align with the traits of truly great surfers.

• Understand how to shift your mindset from ego to awareness, helping you manage frustration, navigate lineup politics, and stay stoked even in challenging conditions.

Tap into the mindset of resilient, wise surfers by listening to this episode and learn how to ride the waves, and life - with stoic flow.

For more go to:

https://surfmastery.com

The Surf Mastery Podcast:

For the passionate surfer - whether you're a weekend warrior, a surf dad, or an older surfer - this podcast is all about better surfing and deeper stoke. With expert surf coaching, surf training, and surfing tips, we'll help you catch more waves, refine your paddling technique, and perfect your pop up on a surfboard. From surf workouts to handling wipeouts, chasing bigger waves, and mastering surf technique, we're here to make sure you not only improve but truly enjoy surfing more - so you can get more out of every session and become a wiser surfer. Go from Beginner or intermediate Surfer to advanced

Are you ready to transform your surfing in 2026 by going all in - completely obsessed, fully immersed, and totally committed? This is the ONLY way to truly improve.

If you're feeling stuck in your surf progression or yearning to break through to the next level, this solo episode with host Michael Frampton dives deep into the one mindset shift that separates average surfers from true masters. It's not just about passion, it's about short-term obsession to create long-term transformation.

• Learn why a temporary period of full-blown surfing obsession could be the key to lasting surf progression.

• Discover practical ways to build your life around surfing without giving up your responsibilities.

• Get inspired with a clear roadmap for turning 2026 into the year you finally identify not just as someone who surfs, but as a true surfer.

Press play now to find out how to make 2026 your breakthrough year of total surf immersion and mastery.

www.surfmastery.com

The Surf Mastery Podcast:

For the passionate surfer - whether you're a weekend warrior, a surf dad, or an older surfer - this podcast is all about better surfing and deeper stoke. With expert surf coaching, surf training, and surfing tips, we'll help you catch more waves, refine your paddling technique, and perfect your pop up on a surfboard. From surf workouts to handling wipeouts, chasing bigger waves, and mastering surf technique, we're here to make sure you not only improve but truly enjoy surfing more - so you can get more out of every session and become a wiser surfer. Go from Beginner or intermediate Surfer to advanced

Are you truly reading the wave, or just watching water move? Discover how paying attention to the ocean's smallest details could completely transform your surfing.

If you've ever felt stuck in your surf progression, unsure why better technique isn't getting better results, this episode is your wake-up call. It's not just about turning sharper or paddling harder, it's about changing how you see the ocean. Whether you're an intermediate surfer or decades in, understanding how to focus and read the wave can be the game-changer you've been missing.

• Learn how world-class surfers like Tom Carroll gain a massive edge by spotting secondary swells, backwashes, and subtle refractions that most surfers miss.

• Discover why your technique won't matter if you can't focus and how mindfulness and meditation off the board can level up your performance on it.

• Shift your entire relationship with surfing by embracing a personal surfing philosophy rooted in joy, longevity, and self-defined progression - not surf industry hype.

Press play to learn how changing your mindset and mastering wave reading can unlock deeper flow, better waves, and more fulfilling sessions in any surf condition.

www.surfmastery.com

Michael Frampton and Van Vu (Originallly published on the Surf Basis Podcast)

The Surf Mastery Podcast:

For the passionate surfer - whether you're a weekend warrior, a surf dad, or an older surfer - this podcast is all about better surfing and deeper stoke. With expert surf coaching, surf training, and surfing tips, we'll help you catch more waves, refine your paddling technique, and perfect your pop up on a surfboard. From surf workouts to handling wipeouts, chasing bigger waves, and mastering surf technique, we're here to make sure you not only improve but truly enjoy surfing more - so you can get more out of every session and become a wiser surfer. Go from Beginner or intermediate Surfer to advanced

What if the key to mastering any craft - surfing, storytelling, relationships, or even table tennis - lies in simply slowing down and noticing the smallest details?

In a fast-paced world that often rewards intensity and output, we easily overlook the quiet power of presence and reflection. Whether you're navigating the chaos of Mavericks or confronting inner narratives, this episode reveals how attention to detail can reshape not just your performance, but your perspective on life itself.

• Discover why focusing on one small detail - like the placement of your back foot - can dramatically improve your surf sessions and silence self-doubt.

• Learn how table tennis taught Kyle Thiermann a life-altering lesson about humility, ego, and mastery that spills over into his big wave surfing.

• Explore how interviewing his parents not only led to his new book but also transformed his relationships and deepened his empathy through the art of asking better questions.

Listen now to uncover how Kyle Thiermann's philosophy of detail and reflection can elevate not just your surfing, but your entire approach to growth and connection.

Kyles' - Book: https://geni.us/onelastqbeforeyougo

Website: https://www.kylethiermann.com

Insta: https://www.instagram.com/kyle_tman/

Kyle was first on the show in 2018 - episode 27

Kyle Thiermann is a surfer, podcast host, and author of One Last Question Before You Go, a book about why you should interview your parents.

www.surfmastery.com

Music: Leo Meizoso - Soul Elegance

The Surf Mastery Podcast:

For the passionate surfer - whether you're a weekend warrior, a surf dad, or an older surfe - this podcast is all about better surfing and deeper stoke. With expert surf coaching, surf training, and surfing tips, we'll help you catch more waves, refine your paddling technique, and perfect your pop up on a surfboard. From surf workouts to handling wipeouts, chasing bigger waves, and mastering surf technique, we're here to make sure you not only improve but truly enjoy surfing more - so you can get more out of every session and become a wiser surfer. Go from Beginner or intermediate Surfer to advanced

What if the key to unlocking your best surfing isn't how you ride a wave - but how you read the ocean before you even paddle for it?

Whether you're a seasoned surfer or just stepping up to steeper waves, too many of us overlook the 99% of surfing that happens off the board. In this eye-opening episode, elite surf coach Matt Scorringe shares why ocean knowledge - not tricks or turns - is the hidden edge that separates good surfers from great ones. If you've ever felt lost in the lineup, struggled with wave selection, or wondered how top surfers always seem to be in the right spot, this conversation is for you.

• Discover the missing piece in most surf coaching: how reading the ocean gives you faster decision-making, greater confidence, and better waves.

• Learn how to turn crowded lineups into a game of strategy, not frustration, using Matt's unique "first line of defense" approach.

• Explore how treating the ocean like a playground—not a proving ground - can unlock more joy, progression, and long-term success in your surfing journey.

Hit play now to learn how rethinking your approach to wave reading and lineup dynamics can instantly elevate your surfing experience.

https://www.theartofsurfing.com

Use Discount Code: "surfmastery25" for 25% discount on Matts Academy and Remote coaching program.

Matts Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/mattyscorringe/?hl=en

For more visit www.surfmastery.com

Music: "Fernweh" by Nachur

The Surf Mastery Podcast:

For the passionate surfer—whether you're a weekend warrior, a surf dad, or an older surfer—this podcast is all about better surfing and deeper stoke. With expert surf coaching, surf training, and surfing tips, we'll help you catch more waves, refine your paddling technique, and perfect your pop up on a surfboard. From surf workouts to handling wipeouts, chasing bigger waves, and mastering surf technique, we're here to make sure you not only improve but truly enjoy surfing more—so you can get more out of every session and become a wiser surfer. Go from Beginner or intermediate Surfer to advanced

Is the surfer catching the most waves always the best surfer in the lineup - or just the loudest?

Surfing is more crowded than ever, and the line between etiquette and entitlement in the lineup is getting blurry. Whether you're new to surfing or a seasoned local, understanding the evolving ethics of surf culture can make or break your session - and everyone else's.

• Hear Holly Beck share how her transformation from competitive surfer to retreat leader changed her perspective on surf etiquette.

• Learn why the unspoken "rules" of the lineup are more complex than just "who's deepest," and how understanding nuance can lead to a better surf experience.

• Discover how surf culture can shift towards empathy and inclusivity without sacrificing skill, tradition, or respect.

Tune in to hear a refreshingly real and nuanced conversation that will challenge how you think about surfing, sharing waves, and what it truly means to be the best surfer in the water.

https://surfwithamigas.com

www.surfmastery.com

The Surf Mastery Podcast:

For the passionate surfer—whether you're a weekend warrior, a surf dad, or an older surfer—this podcast is all about better surfing and deeper stoke. With expert surf coaching, surf training, and surfing tips, we'll help you catch more waves, refine your paddling technique, and perfect your pop up on a surfboard. From surf workouts to handling wipeouts, chasing bigger waves, and mastering surf technique, we're here to make sure you not only improve but truly enjoy surfing more—so you can get more out of every session and become a wiser surfer. Go from Beginner or intermediate Surfer to advanced