Best Surf Podcasts - Organized by Theme

Surf podcasts more or less shake out into these categories:

• Surf Stories & Culture

• Surf Industry & Competition

• Surf Comedy

Surf Stories & Culture

This category encompasses podcasts that delve into the narratives, history, and broader lifestyle of surfing, often featuring personal accounts and deep dives into the sport's rich heritage.

Soundings

This podcast extends the thoughtful, high-quality content synonymous with The Surfer's Journal magazine, offering in-depth conversations with influential figures in surfing. Its thematic focus revolves around surf history, culture, and the broader lifestyle, exploring the profound connections individuals have with the ocean. The format is primarily interview-based, with Jamie Brisick guiding reflective discussions that often explore guests' philosophies and life experiences.

Some conversations feel a little bit like “inside ball” when Jamie reminisces about specific periods of surfing on the tour, but this is only with some guests and is usually a smaller portion of the interview.

The Soundings guest list extends beyond professional athletes to include authors like Thad Ziolkowski and William Finnegan, artists such as Ashley Bickerton, and musicians like Mike D, all of whom share a deep connection to surfing.

3 Good Episodes to Start With:

You can jump in anywhere and don’t need to start from the beginning, but the first two are as good as any to start with and I’ve included a more recent one that I really enjoyed.

• Episode 1: Stephanie Gilmore: This inaugural episode features a seven-time world champion discussing her competitive focus, rapid ascent to the world tour, surf etiquette, and the unique power of a smile in the lineup.

• Episode 2: Tony Alva: This episode explores the pivotal surf-skate connection through the lens of a Dogtown legend.

• Episode 8: Laird Hamilton: Featuring the "definitive waterman," this episode delves into Hamilton's adrenaline-fueled beginnings, early influences, battles with self-doubt, strategies for managing fear, and the iconic backstory of his Millennium Wave.

• Episode 65: Bob McTavish: You’ll see this name pop up in multiple of the podcasts I’ve listed for good reason - he’s a wealth of information on the development of surf culture, has great stories - old and new, and is a great interviewer.

Surf Stories Podcast

This podcast is dedicated to sharing compelling narratives from local surfers, filmmakers, and inspiring individuals, often exploring surf documentaries, memoirs, and unique personal journeys. The format combines Q&A segments with narrative storytelling.

The episodes are often slow to get started, but once in the flow of the interview are usually good and sometimes highly entertaining.

Their aim is to share "stories from local surfers, filmmakers, and inspiring or charismatic individuals". This approach acknowledges that surfing extends beyond a mere sport to encompass a lifestyle rich with individual experiences, challenges, and triumphs.

Good Episodes to Start With:

• In Perpetuity with Dick Metz: Dick’s surf safari story is the basis for one of the most famous surf films of all time: The Endless Summer. He tells pieces of it in this interview and explains how he pitched Bruce Brown the idea of a film that would follow some of his adventures. The interview starts at minute 6 and really gets going around minute 40.

Waterpeople Podcast

Hosted by Lauren L. Hill and Dave Rastovich, the Waterpeople Podcast explores how aquatic experiences shape individuals, delving into broader themes such as ecology, adventure, community, activism, science, egalitarianism, inclusivity, and meaningful play. The overarching perspective is one of "loving water".

This podcast distinguishes itself by positioning surfing as a catalyst for broader conversations. While rooted in the aquatic experience, it consistently expands its thematic scope to include critical issues such as environmental stewardship, social justice, and personal growth. The episodes mostly appeal to the conscious surfer.

3 Good Episodes to Start With:

Starting from Season 1 is as good of a place as any to jump in. They’ve thought through how they want to approach their interviews and have a clear theme. recorded their first full season before

• Introduction: Lauren and Dave recorded their entire first season before recording this introduction and launching, so they give a good overview of what’s to come. If you’re not sure about whether this angle on the surf life is right for you, listen to the introduction before jumping into interview episodes.

• Mark Healey (S1 E4): Along with talks about surfing and weird waves, Mark tells a great story about his near-death bull riding experience (min 27:15).

• **Bob McTavish **(S6 E8): Bob is one of the oldest living surf legends who is still stoked and appreciates the soul of surfing. He is one of the key contributors to the short board revolution, explains why everyone now is riding boards that are too small, and tells a few fun stories. Key topics they touch on:

• perspective on modern surf style

• Views on surf industry and commercialization

• His new 'length of ride' surf competition that is objectively judged

Swell Season Surf Radio

Swell Season Surf Radio covers a wide variety of surf-related topics and perspectives. If you want to broaden your horizon about the type of people that surf and the types of topics they can venture into, you’ll find these episodes helpful. Recurring themes include:

• The New York surf scene

• Environmental and social causes

• Expanding the definition of what it means to be a surfer

The podcast started in 2017, interviewing local surfers and musicians. It now has guests from around the world and some prominent figures in the surf community. You may have to explore around a bit to find the episodes that really resonate with you. There are over 250 and they consistently publish 2 per month.

Good Episodes to Start With:

Starting from the beginning will give you a better idea of where the host is coming from, but isn’t required. You can listen to any episode individually.

From The Beginning:

• Episode 1: Lou Harris Black Surfing Association (May 3, 2017): Lou talks about his experience as a black surfer in New York and has a wild story about his experience during Hurricane Sandy.

More Recent:

• Surfrider Update with Dr. Chad Nelson (Published July 13, 2025): This episode features the CEO of the Surfrider Foundation discussing environmental protections and challenges. If you’re interested in ocean conservation efforts, this is as good as any of the others to jump in and start listening.

• Evolving Community with Chris Gentile (Published June 8, 2025): This episode features the proprietor of Pilgrim Surf + Supply, discussing the cultural and communal aspects of surfing and the journey of building an influential surf shop in New York. It appeals to those interested in surf business, community building, and the intersection of surf with art and fashion.

The Temple of Surf Podcast

Having a host from Italy, this podcast is unique from the rest. It often explores the surf lifestyle from outside the lens of core surfing hubs and cultures like Hawaii, Australia, and California; but this is not its main focus. Conversations are wide ranging and although the focus is usually surfing, there’s no limitations to other topics that can be discussed as they arise.

Good Episodes to Start With:

From The Beginning:

• **Rob Machado **(S1 E1) - At 30 minutes this provides a quick introduction into the podcast so you can see if you like it. The format here is reflective of other episodes.

More Recent:

Surf Star to Soul Surfer: John Philbin’s Real-Life Ocean Journey (S13 E4): This episode features an actor known for his roles in iconic surf films ( North Shore, Point Break) who is also a real surfer and coach. They cover the recent fires in Los Angeles before moving on to the main focus: surf and hollywood.

Surf Comedy

The Raglan Surf Report

This podcast is pure comedic rambling with a level of sarcasm unmatched anywhere else. I've found the Kiwi sense of humor to be a fresh and enjoyable. While some other surf podcasts have their laughs here and there, this podcast is one big joke the entire time. I'll find myself laughing out loud multiple times throughout an episode.

Good Episodes to Start With: You can jump in anywhere. Publishing is infrequent, but due to the nature of the content you can enjoy the banter and sarcasm of any episode.