EP 250: Dr. Cliff Kapono – VICE’s Let It Kill You: The Smartest Surfer in the World, Connecting science & surfing, the MEGA Lab, and Redefining what it means to be a pro surfer

Dr. Cliff Kapono is a professional surfer, journalist, ocean steward, cultural advocate, and marine conservation scientist with a PhD in Chemistry. He is a co-founder of the MEGA Lab, which has pioneered large-scale, community-driven 3D mapping of coral reefs, pushing the boundaries of how we understand and preserve our oceans. He is an ambassador and board member of the Surfrider foundation and is a featured surfer in Thomas Campbell’s film Yi-Wo, VICE’s The Smartest Surfer in the World, and NobodySurf's Circadian Rhythms.

Joining The Lineup from his home in Hilo, Hawai‘i, Cliff reflects on balancing his life between science and surfing, and the power of learning when to say no. He dives into his new VICE documentary, Let It Kill You: The Smartest Surfer in the World, and how the project highlights the many ways surfers can elevate their community and contribute to society beyond competition. Cliff shares his journey from growing up in rural Hawai‘i and chasing the dream of free boards and boardshorts, to becoming one of the few Native Hawaiians with a PhD. He discusses the struggle of reconciling what it means to be a “pro surfer,” the support of brands like Vissla and Reef, and his mission to advocate for scientific literacy in the surf community. The conversation ranges from board talk and the subtleties of rail spray, to the MEGA Lab’s cutting-edge ocean technology projects, to the pioneers and storytellers who shaped his perspective. Cliff also answers fan questions, looks ahead to what’s next for him and his work, and shares why staying connected to the ocean remains at the heart of everything he does.

Learn more about Cliff and his work here, and follow him here.

Watch VICE’s Let It Kill You: The Smartest Surfer in the World.

Watch NobodySurf’s film Circadian Rhythms | A Surf Film by Cliff Kapono.

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