Wild Ideas Worth Living

Grant’s Wild Idea: To educate and raise awareness about mental health issues through surfing in bright colors, sharing his personal story, and starting a movement. Grant Trebilco is the creator of One Wave is All it Takes (OneWave), a nonprofit tackling mental health issues, literally one wave at a time. The organization started in Australia, and has quickly gained worldwide attention through its “Fluro Friday” events, where participants surf in bright colors and wild outfits, drawing attention to a darker issue. I met Grant while surfing in Australia, participated in a few of his events, and have been inspired by his story. Because he had an experience he was willing to share, Grant’s organization has helped numerous people around the world, both in the water and on land. By doing so, One Wave has become an international movement with coverage in outlets like the BBC. Thousands of people at hundreds of beaches participate in Fluro Friday OneWave surf sessions every week. Listen to this episode if:  You have or someone you know has struggled with mental health. You love surfing. You’re passionate about a good cause. You want to surf in fluorescent colors. You want to start your own nonprofit. You love Kiwi and Aussie accents. For full show notes, including guest links and books mentioned during the episode, visit: http://wildideasworthliving.com/30

Rebecca’s Wild Idea: To be a professional adventure racer and bike the Ho Chi Minh Trail in search of her father, who was shot down as a fighter pilot in the Vietnam War. Rebecca Rusch has been a professional athlete for over three decades. She is a seven-time World Champion who continues to shatter the glass ceiling in whatever sport she tackles, whether it is climbing, rafting, or biking. She has a first female ascent rock climbing El Capitan in Yosemite. She has river boarded down the Grand Canyon. And she has beaten most men at endurance mountain bike racing.  Rebecca’s most recent journey goes much deeper. She biked 1,200 miles along the Ho Chi Minh Trail in Southeast Asia to search for the crash site of her father’s plane where he was shot down in the Vietnam War over 40 years ago. She shared the journey with another mountain biker, a local Vietnamese woman, and they documented it all in an epic film by Red Bull Media House called Blood Road that just hit theaters. Listen to this episode if:  You love adventure, adventure racing or know of Rebecca Rush. You know someone who was in or affected by the Vietnam War. You have ever wanted to do an epic adventure. You love stories about family, friendship or history. You love giving back. You love amazing documentaries. You want to listen to the most badass female athlete I have ever met. You want to hear how finding magic is possible, even after massive blood, sweat and tears. For full show notes, including guest links and books mentioned during the episode, visit: http://wildideasworthliving.com/29

Angela’s Wild Idea: To combine spirituality and athleticism while helping others find their own purpose through fitness. Angela Davis is an international fitness evangelist and motivational coach, who’s helped lead events alongside people like Oprah. In addition to being one of the most inspiring voices and coaches, she’s a former member of the USA track and field team and was a five-time All-American who held world rankings in the 100 meter race. These days, Angela can be found instructing one of the most sought after SoulCycle classes with long waitlists and tons of celebrity clients. There’s countless reasons why. One is that her class feels like being inside an upbeat church, with awesome music. You forget you’re in a dark room getting sweaty, and leave the studio feeling pumped up and ready to conquer the world. Angela shares her journey to finding her purpose and how you can find yours. She also shares why working out on the inside is as important as working out on the outside - it’s not just about that tight bootay! Listen to this episode if:  You have twenty minutes to get inspired. You love SoulCycle. You attend fitness classes. You’re searching for your purpose in life. You want a good technique to conquer your fears. You’re the smartest, most inspiring person in your friend group. You are a runner, an athlete or just want a little more mojo. For full show notes, including guest links and books mentioned during the episode, visit: http://wildideasworthliving.com/28

Izzy’s Wild Idea: To be a rebel, to start the first all-women’s surf school, and to create a thriving business in a bikini. Izzy Tihanyi started the first all-women’s surf school in 1996. Prior to founding Surf Diva, Izzy was a competitive collegiate surfer, competed on the professional women’s longboard circuit, hosted a TV show for action sports, and at one point was even my surf camp counselor. Izzy has an awesome story, which is why she frequently gets asked to speak at business and sports events. She also happens to be one of my best friends ever, so we get a little cheeky on the show. We dive into some pretty serious topics too, like body image, the work ethic that is instilled when you come from an immigrant family, starting a business in a bikini, advice to teens, why surfing naked is awesome, and how to be the best surfer in the water. Listen to this episode if:  You wish you didn’t have to wear shoes to work. You surf or want to know how to surf. You love the ocean.  You are an entrepreneur or want to start a business. You know of or have been to Surf Diva. For full show notes, including guest links and books mentioned during the episode, visit: http://wildideasworthliving.com/27

Gretchen & Taylor’s Wild Idea: To be able to go on an adventure at any moment with minimal planning and packing. To explore the world from a van and start a thriving business around their passion.  Gretchen Bayless and Taylor Hood are the founders of Roamerica Rentals, a camper van rental company based in Oregon that lets you take their vans all over North America and even to Canada. Their vans are decked out with items like Rumpl blankets, Stanley stainless steel cooking ware and local organic coffee, so all you have to do is show up with clothes and hit the road. Van life is all the rage right now, and it’s definitely a passion for these two - which is why they were so eager to start a business around sharing their love of exploring the great outdoors with the world.  What I love about their story is it’s very real. Starting a new company isn’t always easy, and as fun as a camper van rental company might sound, it comes with challenges, like working day jobs! That’s right - Roamerica is their side hustle. They didn’t let time or stress or some serious health problems hold them back. Gretchen and Taylor have a lot of joy and a huge sense of adventure, and that shines through in everything they do. They share tips for getting through the highs and lows of starting a business, and letting us all in on the true van life essentials so you can  get on the road and get going. Listen to this episode if:  You want to travel out of a van. You want to see the world. You love the Pacific Northwest. You’re starting a new business. You’re struggling with Lyme Disease. For full show notes, including guest links and books mentioned during the episode, visit: http://wildideasworthliving.com/26

Devyn’s Wild Idea: To connect people through films and stories that will change the world.  Devyn Bisson is a documentary filmmaker who got her start as a beach lifeguard in Huntington Beach, Calif. At just 25 years old, Devyn has produced and created several award-winning films, including The Wave I Ride, and a short about Syrian Refugee Crisis, Lighthouse Molyvos, that’s coming out this summer. Even though she’s young, Devyn has a lot of wisdom about the power of telling a story, and how you can tell your story now. She talks about the similarities between making films and lifeguarding – in many ways they can both save lives. She also shares tips on how to find stories, how to listen to your gut, and how to follow a film’s story so it resonates with a greater audience and takes on its own life. Listen to this episode if:  You love documentaries. You’re a surfer or a lifeguard. You want to be a filmmaker. You are interested in telling important stories. You’re an artist, poet, or a rebel. You care about the Syrian refugee crisis and the world. You want to make a career doing what you love. For full show notes, including guest links and books mentioned during the episode, visit: http://wildideasworthliving.com/25

Brogan’s Wild Idea: To disrupt people’s idea of fitness by creating awesome, fun free workouts and build community around the globe. Brogan Graham is a former collegiate rower and coach with a giant heart, a great sense of adventure, and a huge personality. He and a buddy needed a way to work out in the winter months in Boston, so they started the November Project. What started with a few people running stairs at the Harvard Stadium and doing workouts around Boston has now grown to a movement with thousands of followers at over 37 cities around the globe. The November Project has been described as like Fight Club, but with hugging and some pushups instead of punches.  Today, thousands of people of all abilities show up in cities all over for free group workouts with the most positive people. Brogan is also a captivating speaker, which is why huge corporations like Facebook have called him to speak to thousands of employees. Even though he says he got thrown out of every school he went to, he has some great tips on how to live out any wild idea. This was also a fun podcast because we recorded it the way I intended when I created WIWL. We went surfing, came back had some guacamole, chips, a cerveza and let loose. It’s an entertaining show with a lot of energy.  Listen to this episode if:  You love free workouts. You want to be a part of an awesome community. You dig social media. You like interacting with strangers. You have done or want to try a November Project Workout. You want to hear an entertaining podcast.  For full show notes, including guest links and books mentioned during the episode, visit: http://wildideasworthliving.com/24

Mark’s Wild Idea: To share his family’s story of mental illness and help others. To also choose commitment and love over fear. Mark Lukach is a father, husband, teacher, surfer, bodysurfer, and the author of the new book, My Lovely Wife in the Psych Ward, published by Harper Collins and on shelves this month. Six years ago, Mark submitted an essay about his wife’s struggle with mental illness and its effect on their marriage that was immediately accepted and published in The New York Times’ famous Modern Love column. The story quickly led to a book deal, and to many reaching out thanking him for sharing about such a difficult topic.   In addition to being an awesome writer, Mark is a teacher and the Dean of a high school in northern California. He loves trail running, body surfing and surfing, especially in Ocean Beach. His message about sacrifice, commitment and being vulnerable is so important to living wildly, and also inspiring. Listen to this episode if:   You have or know someone with a mental illness. You are or want to be a writer. You love teaching high school students. You have a story you want to tell, but are afraid to tell it. You are a runner who loves hitting the trails. You love surfing or bodysurfing. For full show notes, including guest links and books mentioned during the episode, visit: http://wildideasworthliving.com/23

Norah’s Wild Idea: To create an innovative company that makes seafood not only sustainable and delicious, but helps improve the health of the oceans while connecting people with their food and where it comes from. To also empower other young female entrepreneurs to take risks in businesses even in industries primarily dominated by men.  Norah Eddy is the co-founder of Salty Girl, a sustainable seafood company with an innovative way of doing business. She grew up in a small New England fishing town and has worked on and around fisheries and boats all over the world. As a surfer and all around water-woman, her love for the ocean is apparent not just in her work with Salty Girl, but in her personal life too. I talked to Norah just before she gave her first TED Talk, and I can see why they invited her. Norah’s created an inspiring company that’s helping connect people with the food that they eat while encouraging sustainable practices. We talked about sustainability, becoming an entrepreneur, being a young businesswoman in a male dominated field, and creating a mission-based company. Listen to this episode if:  You love seafood. You want to save the ocean. You love companies with a mission. You’re a woman in a male-dominated industry. You want to change the world through business. For full show notes, including guest links and books mentioned during the episode, visit: http://wildideasworthliving.com/22

Becky Mendoza and Emi Koch’s Wild Ideas: To advocate for the environment, give back to local communities, travel the world, and encourage other surfers and travelers to use their voices and make a difference. Becky Mendoza is the founder of Changing Tides Foundation, and Emi Koch created Beyond the Surface International. Both non-profits connect surfers and travelers around causes that give back to local communities, and create positive change. These young women are inspiring not only because they took their wild ideas to do good on a local level, but because they’ve also been able to organize others to implement their ideas on a global scale. We talked about how to find the cause that lights you up, how to seek joy now, and why you get so much more from giving than you ever get from getting. Listen to this episode if:  Giving back is important to you. You want to protect the environment.  You want to travel the world. You love meditation and exercise, especially surfing. You want to know how to get more involved in your community or while you travel.  For full show notes, including guest links and books mentioned during the episode, visit: http://wildideasworthliving.com/21