

Waterpeople Podcast
Lauren L. Hill & Dave Rastovich - surf stories & ocean adventures
Stories about the aquatic experiences that shape us. Listen with Lauren L. Hill and Dave Rastovich as they talk story with some of the most adept waterfolk on the planet. Waterpeople is a gathering place for our global ocean community to dive into the themes of watery lives lived well: ecology, adventure, community, activism, science, egalitarianism, inclusivity, meaningful play, a sense of humour. And, surfing, of course.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Nov 20, 2019 • 1h 22min
Madison Stewart: Shark Girl
"I work to take back what I believe is mine, and that is a future in an ocean that has sharks.” At 14, Madison Stewart had a transformative experience with sharks on the Great Barrier Reef that set her on a path to marine science and conservation work. She is a dive master, filmmaker, 2017’s Australian Geographic Society Young Conservationist of the Year and author of The Australian Guide to Surfing with Sharks. Madison is a young filmmaker and entrepreneur who knows sharks as both gnarly and magical. She's spent the last decade dedicating her time and energy to revealing the global attack on sharks - largely for the shark fin market - but also addressing cultural attitudes that are contributing to the dramatic decline in global shark populations. As apex predators, impacting shark populations means altering the entire marine ecosystem. Hers is a story about uncompromising young passion, compassionate approaches to conservation work, and overcoming fear to see reality more clearly. .....Listen with Lauren L. Hill & Dave RastovichMore about MadisonSound Engineer: Shannon Sol Carroll Join the conversation: Waterpeoplepodcast.com@Waterpeoplepodcast Photo Credit: Caragh CreativeSend us a text...Listen with Lauren L. Hill & Dave Rastovich Sound + Video Engineer: Ben J Alexander Theme song: Shannon Sol Carroll Additional music by Kai Mcgilvray + Ben J Alexander Join the conversation: @Waterpeoplepodcast ... Get monthly musings and behind the scenes content from the podcast by subscribing to our newsletter. You'll get water-centric reading and listening recommendations, questions worth asking, and ways to take action for the wellbeing of Planet Ocean delivered straight to your inbox. You can stream every Waterpeople episode from your desk.

Nov 3, 2019 • 45min
Jake Mackenzie: More, more, more
"One is too many and a thousand isn’t enough," says Jake Mackenzie, of his adventurous, but addictive tendencies. Jake is an all-around waterman, and an entrepreneur. Jake shares a story of the spiritual awakening that led him back to the sea, after descending into "a vampire lifestyle" of addiction, hallucination and off-the-rails experimentation. A single moment sent him packing for a slow-moving journey of detox and healing though Europe and, eventually, to the Mediterranean. He knew the medicine he needed was sunlight and saltwater. Jake's is a story of surrender, regaining connection, service and always finding a way to have a good laugh. .....Listen with Lauren L. Hill & Dave RastovichMore about Jake Sound Engineer: Shannon Sol Carroll Join the conversation: Waterpeoplepodcast.com@Waterpeoplepodcast Photo Credit: Tommy SchultzSend us a text...Listen with Lauren L. Hill & Dave Rastovich Sound + Video Engineer: Ben J Alexander Theme song: Shannon Sol Carroll Additional music by Kai Mcgilvray + Ben J Alexander Join the conversation: @Waterpeoplepodcast ... Get monthly musings and behind the scenes content from the podcast by subscribing to our newsletter. You'll get water-centric reading and listening recommendations, questions worth asking, and ways to take action for the wellbeing of Planet Ocean delivered straight to your inbox. You can stream every Waterpeople episode from your desk.

Oct 19, 2019 • 1h 5min
Hayley Talbot: Paddling in the Dark
Hayley Talbot is the first person to solo kayak the great Clarence River (Boorimbah) from source to sea, a 400 kilometre voyage. She's a former competitive surfer and lawyer who found her home in fresh water. In 2017, Hayley Talbot found herself mired in the monotony of raising two young children. She’d yearned to know more about the source of the Clarence River, where she’d grown up and surfed around the river mouth. She wanted to know where it came from. Hayley spent two years preparing, having never kayaked before, but kissed her two young children goodbye for a self-initatied right of passage adventure. Hers is a story about belonging, making space for self amidst parenthood, connecting with indigenous wisdom, and daring to venture outside of our social conditioning. ...Listen with Lauren L. Hill & Dave RastovichMore about Hayley Sound Engineer: Shannon Sol Carroll Join the conversation: Waterpeoplepodcast.com@Waterpeoplepodcast Photo Credit: Unknown (Please reach out if you took this photo)Send us a text...Listen with Lauren L. Hill & Dave Rastovich Sound + Video Engineer: Ben J Alexander Theme song: Shannon Sol Carroll Additional music by Kai Mcgilvray + Ben J Alexander Join the conversation: @Waterpeoplepodcast ... Get monthly musings and behind the scenes content from the podcast by subscribing to our newsletter. You'll get water-centric reading and listening recommendations, questions worth asking, and ways to take action for the wellbeing of Planet Ocean delivered straight to your inbox. You can stream every Waterpeople episode from your desk.

Oct 2, 2019 • 1h 13min
Derek Hynd: Conducting Chaos
Culture shaper and former world Tour Surfer Derek Hynd has always felt like an outsider looking in. In Episode 8, he talks far field theory, seeing magic in the mundane, how style has been made irrelevant in modern competitive surfing and the impact of vanishing hipsters. He also boils down the gender performance gap to one singular element. It's a meandering conversation with many delightful twists and turns that'll make you want to revisit your surf history. Several months after recording this episode, Derek's house tragically caught fire and he lost almost all of his earthly possessions. Some friends have set up a GoFundMe to help fund his rebuild. If you feel moved to support, here's the link......Listen with Lauren L. Hill & Dave Rastovich More about Derek Sound Engineer: Shannon Sol Carroll Join the conversation: Waterpeoplepodcast.com@Waterpeoplepodcast Photo Credit: Unknown (Please reach out if you took this photo)Send us a text...Listen with Lauren L. Hill & Dave Rastovich Sound + Video Engineer: Ben J Alexander Theme song: Shannon Sol Carroll Additional music by Kai Mcgilvray + Ben J Alexander Join the conversation: @Waterpeoplepodcast ... Get monthly musings and behind the scenes content from the podcast by subscribing to our newsletter. You'll get water-centric reading and listening recommendations, questions worth asking, and ways to take action for the wellbeing of Planet Ocean delivered straight to your inbox. You can stream every Waterpeople episode from your desk.

Sep 15, 2019 • 1h 1min
Zara Noruzi: Surfing in Exile
Zara was kidnapped and imprisoned by the Iranian government for her activism. The ocean helped her find a path toward belonging after fleeing her homeland. Zara Noruzi was born an upper middle class girl with political subversion in her blood. She lived through the devastating war between Iraq and Iran. At university she wrote feminist articles and participated in student protests, begging for answers about why women were being denied basic human rights after the regime change.Zara detailed her experiences in her memoir My Life As a Traitor.In Episode 7 of The Waterpeople Podcast, she picks up where her memoir left off -- with discovering surfing and how it has subsequently shaped her life.Zara's is a story of youthful idealism, no-apologies activism, and the power of surfing to bring us back to ourselves. It is a story about the pure and enduring power of the ocean to heal......Listen with Lauren L. Hill & Dave Rastovich More about Zara Sound Engineer: Shannon Sol Carroll Join the conversation: Waterpeoplepodcast.com@Waterpeoplepodcast Photo Credit: Cait MiersSend us a text...Listen with Lauren L. Hill & Dave Rastovich Sound + Video Engineer: Ben J Alexander Theme song: Shannon Sol Carroll Additional music by Kai Mcgilvray + Ben J Alexander Join the conversation: @Waterpeoplepodcast ... Get monthly musings and behind the scenes content from the podcast by subscribing to our newsletter. You'll get water-centric reading and listening recommendations, questions worth asking, and ways to take action for the wellbeing of Planet Ocean delivered straight to your inbox. You can stream every Waterpeople episode from your desk.

Sep 1, 2019 • 1h 3min
Peter Whish-Wilson: Senator Surfer
Peter Whish-Wilson walked away from a big shot banking career in NYC to honor a deep responsibility to protect wild spaces and species. He's now a surfing senator for the great, wild Australian state of Tasmania. What do we do when we've made life choices that make us miserable? Listen as Peter Whish-Wilson shares about the moments that changed his life and livelihood, inspired by the freedom and connection surfing revealed for him. Peter speaks candidly about internalising the stress of negotiating high stakes political situations, the power of the surfer’s circle as a symbolism and activism, and the necessity of community in pursuing political change. @SenatorSurfer.....Listen with Lauren L. Hill & Dave Rastovich Sound Engineer: Shannon Sol Carroll Join the conversation: Waterpeoplepodcast.com@Waterpeoplepodcast Photo Credit: Senatorsurfer.comSend us a text...Listen with Lauren L. Hill & Dave Rastovich Sound + Video Engineer: Ben J Alexander Theme song: Shannon Sol Carroll Additional music by Kai Mcgilvray + Ben J Alexander Join the conversation: @Waterpeoplepodcast ... Get monthly musings and behind the scenes content from the podcast by subscribing to our newsletter. You'll get water-centric reading and listening recommendations, questions worth asking, and ways to take action for the wellbeing of Planet Ocean delivered straight to your inbox. You can stream every Waterpeople episode from your desk.

Aug 15, 2019 • 37min
Leah Dawson: Discovering Femininity
Freesurfer Leah Dawson peels back the layers and dares to ask: "What makes me feel most like myself?" and "How is my surfing an extension of that self?"There are many ways to be male, and many ways to be female. Though our culture is full of prescriptions for how to do it the “right” way. Leah Dawson thanks surfing for leading her along the path to honouring her femininity. Exploring retro-to-modern single fins, twin fins, finless boards, and shaping herself, Leah is among a small handful of surfers who seek to explore the spectrum of wave sizes and crafts. Leah's is a story about asking the tough questions of ourselves, confronting societal expectations, the power of mentorship, and finding ourselves more fully within the context of a loving community. She also shares some of the wisdom from her daughterly experiences with legendary Gerry Lopez. Leah Dawson is a professional surfer, filmmaker and co-founder of the Changing Tides Foundation, which empowers women and girls through travel and surfing. changingtidesfoundation.org@LeahLoves........Listen with Lauren L. Hill & Dave Rastovich Sound Engineer: Shannon Sol Carroll Join the conversation: Waterpeoplepodcast.com@Waterpeoplepodcast Photo Credit: Paka Apparel Send us a text...Listen with Lauren L. Hill & Dave Rastovich Sound + Video Engineer: Ben J Alexander Theme song: Shannon Sol Carroll Additional music by Kai Mcgilvray + Ben J Alexander Join the conversation: @Waterpeoplepodcast ... Get monthly musings and behind the scenes content from the podcast by subscribing to our newsletter. You'll get water-centric reading and listening recommendations, questions worth asking, and ways to take action for the wellbeing of Planet Ocean delivered straight to your inbox. You can stream every Waterpeople episode from your desk.

Jul 31, 2019 • 48min
Mark Healey: Confronting Discomfort
Legendary waterman Mark Healey lost three friends to heavy water situations through the course of the early 2000s. He speaks candidly about the ways these experiences rewired his process of risk assessment, while maintaining his relationship with the water and his career as a professional risk taker: chasing big waves, free diving, spearfishing, shark tagging, bow hunting, and working as a Hollywood stuntman. Mark also shares about relying on instincts in heavy situations, the importance of being able to override the fear response through preparation, and asking the tough questions of yourself about the 'whys' of decision-making. Mark’s yogic approach to confronting discomfort inspires us to keep facing our self-built boundaries. He reminds us that without challenge, there is no growth. … The Waterpeople Podcast is a gathering for our global ocean community to dive into the critical conversations of our culture through storytelling. We sit with some of the most adept waterpeople on the planet to explore common themes of aquatic lives lived well: ecology, adventure, community, activism, science, egalitarianism, inclusivity, meaningful play. And surfing, of course.Listen with Lauren L. Hill & Dave Rastovich Sound Engineer: Shannon Sol Carroll Music by Band of Frequencies. Available via www.lowpressureproductions.com and on Spotify. Join the conversation: Waterpeoplepodcast.com@Waterpeoplepodcast Photo Credit: Unknown (Please Reach out if you took this photograph)Send us a text...Listen with Lauren L. Hill & Dave Rastovich Sound + Video Engineer: Ben J Alexander Theme song: Shannon Sol Carroll Additional music by Kai Mcgilvray + Ben J Alexander Join the conversation: @Waterpeoplepodcast ... Get monthly musings and behind the scenes content from the podcast by subscribing to our newsletter. You'll get water-centric reading and listening recommendations, questions worth asking, and ways to take action for the wellbeing of Planet Ocean delivered straight to your inbox. You can stream every Waterpeople episode from your desk.

Jul 19, 2019 • 1h 1min
Kimi Werner: Flipping Your Instincts
At the height of her competitive spearfishing career, Kimi Werner began battling with inner demons that turned the once-solace of the ocean into a cacophony of self-criticism. Kimi’s is a story about attaining dreams, losing love, wrestling with dissatisfaction and, ultimately, finding love again in the deep. Our conversation dives into reckoning with fear, flipping your instincts in heavy water situations, and the beauty of knowing where your food comes from. Kimi Werner is a former U.S. National Champion spearfisher, a freediver, and chef. … The Waterpeople Podcast is a gathering for our global ocean community to dive into the critical conversations of our culture through storytelling. We sit with some of the most adept waterpeople on the planet to explore common themes of aquatic lives lived well: ecology, community, activism, science, egalitarianism, inclusivity, meaningful play.Listen with Lauren L. Hill & Dave Rastovich Sound Engineer: Shannon Sol Carroll Join the conversation: Waterpeoplepodcast.com@Waterpeoplepodcast Photo Credit: Chase PellerinSend us a text...Listen with Lauren L. Hill & Dave Rastovich Sound + Video Engineer: Ben J Alexander Theme song: Shannon Sol Carroll Additional music by Kai Mcgilvray + Ben J Alexander Join the conversation: @Waterpeoplepodcast ... Get monthly musings and behind the scenes content from the podcast by subscribing to our newsletter. You'll get water-centric reading and listening recommendations, questions worth asking, and ways to take action for the wellbeing of Planet Ocean delivered straight to your inbox. You can stream every Waterpeople episode from your desk.

Jul 17, 2019 • 29min
Introduction to The Waterpeople Podcast with Lauren L. Hill & Dave Rastovich
On The Waterpeople Podcast, we're delving deep into the intricacies of how the world's most adept waterpeople make lives of great meaning through meaningful play. In this episode Lauren L. Hill and Dave Rastovich elucidate the the 'whys' of making the podcast, reveal about their highlights from Season One, and welcome you to their watery world. ... The Waterpeople Podcast is a gathering for our global ocean community to dive into the critical conversations of our culture through storytelling. We sit with some of the most adept waterpeople on the planet to explore common themes of aquatic lives lived well: ecology, community, activism, science, egalitarianism, inclusivity, meaningful play.Listen with Lauren L. Hill & Dave Rastovich Sound Engineer: Shannon Sol Carroll Join the conversation: Waterpeoplepodcast.com@Waterpeoplepodcast Send us a text...Listen with Lauren L. Hill & Dave Rastovich Sound + Video Engineer: Ben J Alexander Theme song: Shannon Sol Carroll Additional music by Kai Mcgilvray + Ben J Alexander Join the conversation: @Waterpeoplepodcast ... Get monthly musings and behind the scenes content from the podcast by subscribing to our newsletter. You'll get water-centric reading and listening recommendations, questions worth asking, and ways to take action for the wellbeing of Planet Ocean delivered straight to your inbox. You can stream every Waterpeople episode from your desk.