Joël de Rosnay: Surfing the Future | Science, Waves & Human Potential | The Temple of Surf Podcast"
Description:
In this extraordinary episode of The Temple of Surf Podcast, we are honored to welcome Joël de Rosnay a visionary thinker, futurist, scientist, surfer, and author whose ideas have shaped generations.
Born in Mauritius and raised near the ocean, Joël has led a life at the intersection of science and surfing. As a former professional surfer, molecular biologist, advisor to the French government, and author of seminal works like The Symbiotic Man and Surfing the Life Force, Joël brings a unique, philosophical perspective to our understanding of life, technology, and nature.
In this episode, we dive deep into Joël’s remarkable journey. He shares how his early love for surfing in the 1950s sparked his fascination with systems thinking, how everything, from waves to human societies, follows patterns, cycles, and energy flows. Surfing, to him, is not just a sport. It’s a metaphor for how to navigate complexity, change, and the unknown.
Joël discusses his scientific career, from working at MIT to becoming Director of Forecasting at the Cité des Sciences in Paris. But more than credentials, it’s his vision for the future that makes this conversation so inspiring.
He explains how surfing can teach us resilience, balance, anticipation and how those lessons are more relevant than ever in today’s fast-moving, uncertain world.
One of the most powerful moments in the episode is when Joël reflects on “surfing the wave of life.” Whether it’s technology, emotions, or evolution itself, he believes we can learn to ride these forces consciously, not passively, becoming co-creators of our future.
We also explore his thoughts on artificial intelligence, climate change, education, and the potential of humanity to evolve toward greater awareness. Joël doesn’t offer dystopian fear — he offers empowered optimism grounded in science and personal experience. At nearly 90 years old, his mind is sharp, his spirit is young, and his stoke for surfing is still alive.
This episode is not just for surfers or scientists — it’s for anyone curious about life, meaning, and how to find harmony in a chaotic world. Joël de Rosnay’s insights will leave you thinking long after the last wave fades.
🎧 Tune in now and be inspired by a true Renaissance man — one who believes the future is not to be feared but surfed.