Stoked to get back with my long time family friend, Alo Slebir, to catch up since our last episode in April of 2019. Alo takes us through the last ~4 years of surfing Mavericks on the regular, evolving his entire routine at this legendary heavy water break. We learn about Alo's new routine with tow partner Luca Padua, hear stories from the surprisingly different (and heavy) swells of 2023 hitting Northern California, winning the Mavericks Award in 2023, going big on Mainland Mexico barrels, and an overall humble and wise-beyond-his-years approach to life in the water. You can see a bunch more about Alo on his Insta at @aloslebir and on Surfline.com.

Join us on an exhilarating journey as we dive into the world of Moroccan surf culture, guided by the remarkable Dris Mhammedi, a true son of this captivating land. In this episode, we explore Dris's incredible progression in surfing, from his early days as a part of the development of surf culture in Morocco to his current role as the driving force behind a professional development program centered the flow from riding waves.

Immerse yourself in the magic of Morocco's remote and perfect surf spots, as Dris shares his personal experiences and reflections on the state of flow that surfing provides. Discover how this state of mind has profoundly shaped his own journey in life, propelling him to harness the power of the flow state in sport psychology and leadership training. Dris's global program, Mind Surf Experiences, offers a unique perspective on the transformative impact of flow, both on and off the waves.

Through insightful anecdotes and captivating storytelling, Dris invites us to explore the intersection of surfing, personal growth, and professional development. Gain a deeper understanding of how the flow state can unlock hidden potential, foster resilience, and enhance performance in various aspects of life.

Prepare to be inspired by Dris Mhammedi's unwavering passion for surfing and his dedication to empowering others. Together, we'll embark on a journey that unveils the beauty of Moroccan surf culture, while uncovering the possibilities for us all that lie within the flow state.

So grab your virtual surfboard, tune in, and get ready to ride the waves of flow with Dris Mhammedi on this extraordinary episode of This Ocean Life Podcast. You can also find Dris on Instagram.

This Ocean Life Podcast is available on all major podcast platforms. Don't miss out on our captivating conversations with remarkable individuals from around the world. Subscribe now and join us on this transformative audio adventure.

Vince Broglio of Santa Cruz, CA is the definition of 'waterman'. Strong across a wide variety of disciplines in the ocean for over 40+ years, the cliff notes of his waterman resume go like this: 40 plus years surfing Santa Cruz, surfing Mavericks before pictures were ever published of that wave in a magazine, running jet skis as water patrol on the biggest swell days out there, hand shaping and glassing 1,000's of surf boards and other water craft, kite surfing, tow surfing, wing foiling, And on top of it all, he's an incredible artist creating unreal sculptures out of surfboard resin. But perhaps my favorite aspect of Vince is his longevity in the water -- he's still ripping today when many other guys have hung it up or taken steps back. 

You can learn more about Vince, his boards and art on his website https://www.vincebrogliosurfboards.com/ and Instagram @vbsurfboards. Also, check out our sponsor Kalletka Undersea and enter promo code THISOCEAN15 at checkout to receive 15% off all merch.

In this episode, Amber Jade, born and raised in the Hawaiian Islands, shares her stories of the beautiful challenge of underwater modeling on a breath. Amber shares her perspective on finding flow in the ocean, setting up for underwater photo shoots, free dive training, and life growing up on the island of Oahu. We also hear about Amber's world travels to over 30 countries and push to reach the 100' depth mark on a single breath. You can find Amber's amazing underwater photos and a wealth of inspiration on her Instagram @the.amber.jade. And for rad apparel with your favorite ocean imagery, check our sponsor Kalletka Undersea and enter coupon code THISOCEAN15 for 15% off all merch at check out. 

Anesti Vega's colorful life includes homelessness, combat duty in the US Army, film making, activism for indigenous peoples, and more. But in this podcast episode we hear of Anesti's core passion for scuba diving and the ocean. Anesti takes us through his progression of scuba dive training, making scuba available to military veterans and disabled persons, his love for citizen-based marine science, and his recognized achievements across many ocean-related organizations, and much more. Anesti shares a wonderful perspective on balancing his passion for the ocean with a strong devotion to family and culture. 

You can learn more about Anesti on his website at https://www.anestivega.com/ and follow his adventures on Instagram @anestivega.

In the relatively niche sport of prone paddling, a few names stand out across the world -- one of those is Lachie Lansdown. As a top finisher of world class events such as Molokai 2 Oahu and The Catalina Classic, Lachie has built an incredible competitive career that has taken him around the world. From top athlete on Team Australia in the ISA World Paddleboard Championships to ripping waves on his 10' race board, Lachie's endurance and skill in the water is only rivaled by his charisma and thirst for adventure and fun. 

** Pick up your trash and save the plastic for another day :)

** Interview episode 129 **

Brooke Basse is a legend on and under the water. Growing up in Southern California Brooke has found her calling as part-time commercial diver, part-time spearfisher, and full-time charger. From surfing to blue water breath holds waiting for the right shot on huge fish, Brooke spends her days finding new adventures in her local waters and has tons of stories to share. With the landing of a 200+ lb blue fin tuna under her belt, her own boat, shark encounters, and a true appreciation for the camaraderie that her ocean life has brought her, Brooke shares a humble perspective on her time in the ocean with us. You can check her out on Instagram @brookebasse. 

** Interview episode 128 **

I’m really excited to share with you all a figure in modern surfing that continues to evolve and expand his influence in the surf industry, Mr CJ Hobgood. You hear his name, and you may automatically identify CJ with an amazing professional surfing career where he was ASP rookie of the year and former world champion but what I really enjoyed learning was there is so much more to CJ than riding waves.

He’s an identical twin to his brother, Damien, CJ is a dedicated family man, he just created a movie, he’s podcasting, he’s helping support a major ocean lifestyle brand, and way more. We play some clips from the movie, And Two If By Sea, where CJ shares his own human experience in the world of professional surfing, we talk about pushing our limits in the ocean, the power of story telling, raising families, and more.

Lots of good stuff with CJ that I’m really stoked to share with you all. Be sure to check out And Two if By Sea — it’s available on Amazon Prime and as you’ll hear today you don’t need to love surfing to love this movie, there’s something in it for everybody. And because we are all looking for more podcasts to add to our lineup, go find and follow the Salty Stories Ship's Log podcast that CJ’s launched with Salty Crew. So thanks again everyone.

** Interview episode 127 **

** Interview episode 126 **

Today Vicky Durand takes us through the colorful life of her mother, Betty, charging waves in the 1950’s. From stories she’s captured in her recent book, Wave Woman, Vicky tells the story of her mother finding and thriving in the world of surfing, the legendary Waikiki surf scene, the first international surfing competition for woman, and much more. Vicky takes us through her own teen years of surfing on Hawaii, the characters, the waves, and her own stories of progressing in the ocean, and surfing with her mother. You can find the whole story in Wave Woman, available at wavewomanbook.com and major online book retailers, and if you love hearing about what I consider the golden days of surfing, you’ll love this book. Hope you’re all well and enjoy our time today with Vicky.

If you like what you hear on the podcast today, I appreciate you following This Ocean Life on your podcast app and/or sharing with a friend. Hope everyone is well and safe. You can find more fun stuff on the ThisOceanLife.TV website, Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. Host: Josh Pederson, @surfpaddletailgate