This conversation with Rhonda Harper and Dr. Cassie Comley is by far the most critical conversation I've had to date on the Salted Spirit Podcast. Rhonda and Cassie share firsthand stories of  racism, threats of violence and even threats of death solely based on the way they look. They call out examples of microagression and their experiences with white supremacy, and also shine a critical spotlight on the sport of surfing and the racism and injustices that exists in a sport so many of us love and mindlessly enjoy without conflict every day.

Rhonda is the founder of Black Girls Surf and is currently in Africa pouring her heart and energy into a team of girls learning to surf, attend school for the first time, and so much more. Cassie works with incarcerated youth, is a published author, academic and active with non-profits like LatinX and Courage Camps. Their day to day work is very different, yet they are fighting for the same issues and their lives and stories have so many beautiful parallels. 

Kanoa Greene describes herself as a plus-size surfer, adventurer and fitness coach. She believes plus-size women can do hard things at any weight, shape or size, and she walks her talk by living her mantra daily - “Fitness is about seeing what this body can DO - not to see what it can look like."

Prior to 2015, Kanoa says she hadn't even taken a nature walk, and certainly only day dreamed about surfing because she never saw women like her in the water. She took the leap after a major medical set-back that she now looks at as a gift! 

Kanoa helps women of all colors, shapes and sizes gain the strength, agility and endurance they need to live their best and wildest adventures. Breaking down barriers and stereotypes, she has created the world's first Surf & Yoga Retreat for plus-size women and is continuously advocating for size inclusivity and representation within the fitness, fashion and active outdoor industries.

Recap of the Salted Spirit live virtual "Wellness for Waterwomen" session incorporating all things nutrition and mindfulness with special guest speakers! Tune in to hear the replay, and join us every Sunday morning for a new live virtual session addressing different topics to tackle while we are all home, all inspired by mother ocean. 

“You never really arrive...” was one of the most impactful statements from my podcast interview with Em & Olly, the co-founders of swimwear brand Raw x Salt. They join me from Coffs Harbour, Australia to talk about sustainability, motherhood and their definition of a beautiful mess. We dig into the complexities and joys of female partnerships, how they finally made the leap to entrepreneurship and their inspiration to do better for the ocean through their slow fashion philosophy. Olly is originally from Russia but saw the devastating effects of waste while working in the airline industry, while Em worked directly in fashion and physically had allergic reactions to chemicals while unpacking boxes of merchandise. As a result of their experiences they are collectively taking a stand for the environment and going against the grain of what we’re accustomed to with throwaway swimwear and fast fashion.

Nix Joubert invites us onto her boathouse in Cornwall, UK. It’s high tide there, the hammock is swinging and Nix is surrounded by watery goodness in her meditation studio. She’s about to take us through her exquisite metamorphosis. It all started with a calling to the Nicaraguan jungle for meditation training, followed by a cancer diagnosis, stories of motherhood, a broken marriage and through it all, leading with smiles, light & grit. If you’ve attended one of my Wellness for Waterwomen events, Nix is the mastermind behind the besoke meditations I close with at the end of each workshop, and she’ll have your whole body purring. Her meditations include a treasure chest of secrets; sunshine, breathing, feeling and moving with joy, water, smiling and more. If you’re a beginner or you’ve fallen off the meditation wagon, Nix walks us through a place to start today. After all, you can’t stay clean from yesterday’s shower, and you can’t stay clean from yesterday’s meditation.

The topic of water wars and climate change is heavy, but somehow Trace Lane has a very tactful way of discussing the issues and navigating this complex topic. From her research on the Bagua Massacre in Peru to restricted water resources in India, she’s seen a little bit of everything from traveling to some of the most remote jungles around the world. Her observation? It seems most water wars are actually about oil, and how oil contaminates cherished water resources. Trace is the founder of Surf Sisters for Science, a sisterhood of surfers, scientists and adventurers who seek to defend water, waves and the communities that are defined by them against contamination and erasure. “We will resist the erasure of the human experience of climate change by reporting stories of climate impact that would otherwise be unheard, and by increasing open access climate data.”

Get comfy and settle in with your favorite cup of tea, because Jessie Kendall-Bar is about to take you on a magical tour of the sea. If you’ve never been scuba diving or seen an enchanted kelp forest, allow Jessie to enlighten your senses with her storytelling, and teach you about some of the most fascinating species on this earth. One of the most multi-faceted young women I know, Jessie is a PhD student at UC Santa Cruz in the Ecology & Evolutionary Biology department studying marine mammals. She’s also an underwater photographer, illustrator and overall passionate waterwoman, to name a few. She leverages her creativity and art to communicate scientific results, a refreshing way to learn an often complex topic. I hope you enjoy geeking out on marine mammals, biology and art as much as I did in this episode with Jessie!

Rene Tonalli brings earthy vibes and joins me from her cozy bungalow in the Redwoods. Admittedly, I reached out to Rene as a result of seeing Australia entirely on fire, and experiencing feelings of absolute devastation and hopelessness. I was selfishly craving stories of people who are still deeply connected to earth; indigenous stories from unseen places around the world, and I wanted some sort of reassurance that we can collectively get back to a place where the planet and our oceans are thriving. No pressure Rene! She shares stories about her time in the Amazon, how it helped heal some deeply rooted trauma, and also gives us tangible ideas of how we can reconnect with the earth today to help heal the land, and ultimately start healing ourselves.

Jordyn Romero and I enjoy a salty surf in Venice before recording her episode, hence the ponchos and salty dog look. Jordyn is one of the most inspiring 22 year old women I’ve met. She recently finished her first documentary, Of The Sea, a female-driven surf film that follows a mother and her entrepreneurial efforts to raise awareness of the world’s plastic consumption. Jordyn is already onto her next film adventure in Sri Lanka with the organization Sea Sisters. Jordyn bravely opens up regarding the tragic death of her father a year ago, and how she has pushed through her grief with daily ocean therapy. She’s a brave and radiant light for anyone who has lost someone so dear to them, and also shares how international travel shaped her at a young age.