Best Watermen Podcasts (2026)

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Sustainable Tourism 32:47

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12d ago32:47

32:47

Episode 8 of The Northern OBX Podcast features Dr. Whitney Knollenberg, Associate Professor at NC State University, for an insightful conversation on sustainable tourism and what it means for The Northern Outer Banks. Dr. Knollenberg explains how balancing visitor experiences with community well-being helps ensure the OBX remains a thriving destina…

1
Living the Questions: answering your queries 1:19:17

22d ago1:19:17

1:19:17

Ever felt the ocean fix what land couldn’t? This episode, we turn the mics on one another and answer your questions about grief, love, parenting, and crowded lineups. Hear the stories behind the sails, the garden, and the choices that have shaped us. Also: It’s time for our annual giveaway – you can enter by leaving a review of the podcast before J…

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The Rivers Run: Theory of Change (pt. 2) 42:57

27d ago42:57

42:57

What's a river to you? After cyclone Alfred crossed Australia's East Coast earlier this year, tens of thousands of fish died in our local river, Dave got a persistent staph infection and our community tousled with a question: what's wrong with our river? And what can we do about it ? How does change happen when we, and the world, seem stuck in our …

1
Rooted in the Land: Farmers Markets 25:58

29d ago25:58

25:58

Episode 7 of the Northern OBX Podcast features Chet Morris, owner of Morris Farm Market in Barco, NC. Chet shares the history of his family’s farm, how the farmers market has become something bigger than just a produce stand, and how local farming traditions continue to shape the community today. The conversation explores the abundance of farmers m…

1
Sterling Spencer: Fan of the Universe 1:31:08

1M ago1:31:08

1:31:08

At age 8, Sterling Spencer was signed to surf sponsorship and then had a successful amateur career before chasing the Pro Tour. He was an early internet adopter who found his stride not in competitive surfing, but in making good fun of an earnest surf industry and culture. Sterling is a pro surfer and media maker from Florida’s Gulf Coast known for…

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Peter Gash OAM: Custodian of Curiosity 1:00:02

1M ago1:00:02

1:00:02

Not long ago, Lady Elliot Island was basically unrecognisable. In the late 1800s, it was mined for guano used as agricultural fertiliser. The island was stripped bare. This is a story about what happens when one person has a vision and refuses to let hard work, qualifications or accepted definitions of 'possible' get in the way of curiosity. Regene…

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Building the Outer Banks: History, Hospitality & Visitor Economy 32:41

1M ago32:41

32:41

In this episode of the Northern OBX Podcast, we sit down with Clark Twiddy of Twiddy & Company for an insightful deep dive into the history of Corolla, the Twiddy family legacy, and the evolution of vacation rentals and property management in the Outer Banks. Clark shares how the visitor economy—our regions and North Carolina’s number one economic …

1
Ethnomads: Ke'ili Mcevilly + Chris Miyashiro 51:11

2M ago51:11

51:11

Grief, love, and lineage shape a rite of passage as our guests recall learnings from storms, stars, mentors, and manta rays at midnight. Ke'ilii Mcevilly is an environmental scientist with a Masters degree in sustainability. Ke'ili grew up surfing in California, and is now based on the island of Oahu. She is an artist and waterwoman involved in the…

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Chris Miyashiro: Homecomings 1:04:57

2M ago1:04:57

1:04:57

A captain wakes in the night certain he’s wrecked in mangroves—only he’s on his own porch. That jarring reentry from a month under sail becomes our portal into a deeper story about attention, tradition, and becoming a different kind of person at sea with artist-sailor-filmmaker Chris Miyashiro. Chris takes us from his grandfather’s walls—painted wi…

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Protecting the Corolla Wild Horses 28:28

2M ago28:28

28:28

Episode 5 of the Northern OBX Podcast features an inspiring and informative conversation with Chris Winter of the Corolla Wild Horse Fund. Chris takes listeners deep into the history of the iconic Corolla Wild Horses, sharing how these remarkable animals have survived and adapted to the ever-changing environment of the Outer Banks. He highlights th…

1
John Peck: Rebirth 38:57

2M ago38:57

38:57

What does it mean to live a life of service? Pipeline pioneer John Peck was devout to many things over this 81 years, and exploring this question was amongst them. In 2015, we hosted John for what was a precursor to this podcast - a storytelling evening in our local community hall. He was captivating - virtually no one moved for hours, as Dave's qu…

1
Currituck’s Maritime Heritage 21:39

2M ago21:39

21:39

Step into the heart of the Outer Banks’ maritime legacy with this episode of The Northern OBX Podcast. We’re joined by Chandler Sawyer from the Currituck Maritime Museum, who brings to life the stories of the people and traditions that shaped the Northern Outer Banks. Chandler explores the region’s deep connection to hunting, fishing, and boatbuild…

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Layne Beachley + Tess Brouwer: Mental Fitness 56:33

3M ago56:33

56:33

Two friends chart a path from pain to agency: Layne Beachley examines the drive behind seven world titles and finds a search for self-worth, while Tess Brouwer turns a hidden spinal injury and a hospital-bed reckoning into a mental fitness toolkit. Together, Layne and Tess are the co-authors of the book Awake Academy, wherein they share the life al…

1
The Secrets of Whalehead 31:38

3M ago31:38

31:38

Step back in time with us on The Northern OBX Podcast as we sit down with Jill Landen, Curator of Whalehead in Historic Corolla Park. In this captivating episode, Jill unlocks the fascinating stories hidden within the gilded walls of this iconic mansion — tales of wealth, love, adventure, and mystery that echo through the decades. Discover the extr…

1
Episode 8 “Tippity Witchity” 4:48

3M ago4:48

4:48

At the mouth of the St. Mary’s River lies an island with a name that sounds like a children’s rhyme — but whispers of something much darker. Tippity Witchity. Once a sacred courting ground… later a den of vice and secrets… and today, the site of chilling encounters no map can explain. From Confederate smugglers and floating bordellos to a pale woma…

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Currituck Beach Lighthouse with Meghan Agresto 31:10

3M ago31:10

31:10

Episode 2 of the Northern OBX Podcast takes you inside the history and legacy of the Currituck Beach Lighthouse. Built in 1875, this towering brick beacon helped guide sailors through the dangerous waters of the Outer Banks and still stands as a proud reminder of maritime heritage. In this episode, you’ll hear fascinating details about its construc…

1
Brenden 'Margo' Margieson: Renaissance Man 1:13:43

4M ago1:13:43

1:13:43

Every mid-aged Aussie bloke's favourite surfer? That's Margo. Widely recognised as the first paid freesurfer - Brenden 'Margo' Margieson is famed almost as much for his gentle demeanour as his explosive power surfing. We traced some of his undulating journey through a surfing life's highs and lows. From early days being propelled by legendary filmm…

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Northern Outer Banks History with Barbara Snowden 29:50

4M ago29:50

29:50

The Northern Outer Banks Podcast kicks off its very first episode with a journey through time. Local historian Barbara Snowden joins us to share her deep knowledge of Currituck’s evolving story, weaving together the past and present in a way that reminds us why this place is so special. From the days when duck hunting drew visitors from across the …

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Theory of Change (pt. 1): Waterwomen Camp Out 1:01:28

4M ago1:01:28

1:01:28

How does change happen when we, and the world, seem stuck in our ways? We’re curious about how change happens – and what people are doing on the ground, in our community, to create the causal pathways to shift social and environmental ideas, norms, and policy. Listen in for stories from the 2025 Waterwomen Camp Out put on by the NGO Surfers for Cli…

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Holly Beck: Simplicity + Therapy 1:29:49

5M ago1:29:49

1:29:49

Is there a particular fear that's still holding you back? Holistic surf therapist and coach Holly Beck talks us through the way she sees terrestrial life play out in the water - in terms of how we behave and how we engage with others and with the ocean. Holly spent 10 years as a professional surfer, where she pioneered new pathways for women in the…

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Episode 7: The Story Of Caroline 6:00

6M ago6:00

6:00

The Story of Caroline is a haunting, true tale set in the southernmost part of St. Mary’s County, Maryland. In the early 1950s, young Caroline would accompany her father to the local tomato canning factory—never imagining that simply being there would change her life. Noticed by a factory manager, Caroline soon found herself caught in a web of atte…

1
Hunter Williams: Shapes + Templates 1:01:47

6M ago1:01:47

1:01:47

Who's your youngest friend? We just met one of ours: 11-year-old surfer, shaper and filmmaker Hunter Williams. This year, Hunter won the grom shorts category at the Noosa International Surf Film Festival with his movie Heirloom. Informing an impressive depth of knowledge about surfboard building and design, is Hunter’s spectral surfing skill – he t…

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Arne Rubinstein: Rites of Passage 1:16:02

7M ago1:16:02

1:16:02

Rites of passage, once central to marking life’s transitions, have faded in modernity. As we navigate rising anxiety, social fragmentation, and a world where technology permeates nearly all aspects of our shared human experience, what role could a revival of rites of passage play in reclaiming our resilience and our capacity for social cohesion? Dr…

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Episode 6 - Risky Whiskey 4:45

7M ago4:45

4:45

In this "spirited" episode of St. Mary’s SOCO Stories, we uncork the secret world of moonshiners in Southern Maryland during Prohibition. When the nation went dry, the back roads of Ridge, St. Inigoes, and beyond lit up with copper stills and bootleg liquor runs. But this wasn’t just a local affair—some of that risky whiskey didn’t stop at the coun…

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Episode 5: The Oyster Wars 6:15

7M ago6:15

6:15

In this episode of St. Mary’s SOCO Stories, we dive into the gritty, little-known maritime conflict that once rocked the Chesapeake Bay—the Oyster Wars. From the 1800s through the early 1900s, the waters off Southern Maryland became a battleground between local watermen, out-of-state dredgers, and the so-called "Oyster Navy." Fueled by profit and s…

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Bonnie Tsui: On Muscle + Movement 1:19:43

7M ago1:19:43

1:19:43

What moves you through the world? In the most literal sense, it's the same answer for all of us: muscle. In On Muscle, Bonnie Tsui brings her signature blend of science, culture, immersive reporting, and personal narrative to examine not just what muscles are - but what they mean to us. Bonnie attended Harvard University, where she rowed crew, snow…

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Dylan Graves: The Levity Effect 1:55:16

7M ago1:55:16

1:55:16

How much has your homebreak shaped you - your life, livelihood, the person you've become? The quirkiness of Dylan Graves' Puerto Rican homebreak shaped a lifelong obsession, and subsequent career in chasing, riding, and documenting Weird Waves around the globe. Tidal bores, standing waves, wedges, glacial calving swells; Dylan's Youtube channel sha…

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Sarah Gerhardt: Unstable Bonds 1:10:54

7M ago1:10:54

1:10:54

Besides being a professor of chemistry, Dr. Sarah Gerhardt was the first woman to ride one of the world’s most feared waves, Mavericks in icy Northern California. She is a mother of two and acknowledged as the first female tow-in surfer. Amidst a tumultuous childhood, Sarah found stability in an unexpected place: The Periodic Table of Elements. Sar…

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Episode 4: Pirates Of The Potomac 4:55

8M ago4:55

4:55

Long before speedboats and sailboats dotted the Potomac, its waters were prowled by pirates and privateers who made their mark on Southern Maryland's rich and rebellious history. In this episode of St. Mary's SOCO, we uncover the wild and often-overlooked stories of smuggling, sabotage, and swashbuckling along the Potomac River. From rogue raiders …

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Kiana Weltzien: More with Less 1:02:40

8M ago1:02:40

1:02:40

When was the last time you followed a spark of curiosity all the way to some distant shoreline? Kiana Weltzien's ocean adventures began in 2016 when she left her real estate career in Miami for a year of travel. Along the way, she met a mentor and moved onto his boat; a replica Polynesian double-canoe. She sensed that this was her new way of life. …

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Episode 2 Point Lookout: Ghosts, Graves, And The Edge Of The World 4:30

8M ago4:30

4:30

It’s where the land ends, the waters meet, and the stories never stop. In this episode of St. Mary’s SOCO, we head to Point Lookout — a place known for its beauty, its battles, and its bone-chilling hauntings. Once home to a Civil War prison camp and hospital, Point Lookout has earned a reputation as one of the most haunted spots in the country. Bu…

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Episode 3 Haunted Point Lookout: Spirits Near The Water 4:30

8M ago4:30

4:30

Cruise long enough at Point Lookout, and you might hear footsteps where no one walks. See lights where there are no lanterns. Or feel a chill that has nothing to do with the wind off the water. In this eerie episode of St. Mary’s SOCO, host KT Harris explores the ghost stories and paranormal legends surrounding Point Lookout — from Civil War soldie…

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Episode 1 Saint Mary's City- The Rise And Fall Of The First Capital 4:25

8M ago4:25

4:25

Before Annapolis, before Washington, DC — there was St. Mary’s City. In this debut episode of St. Mary’s SOCO, host KT Harris takes you back to 1634, when a group of weary settlers landed on the banks of the Potomac to build something bold: a colony built on tolerance, survival, and uneasy peace. Learn about the rise, and fall of Maryland’s origina…

1
Putting Tech in its Place with Helena Norberg-Hodge + friends 48:50

11M ago48:50

48:50

What's lost when we hand over skills or experiences to technology ? We sat down with localisation pioneer Helena Norberg-Hodge to learn more about the waves of radical economic and social changes she has experienced first hand. In 1975, as a student of linguistics amongst the glacial melt of the Himalayas, Helena witnessed the rapid erosion of trad…

1
Gary McNeill: Make It Last 59:39

11M ago59:39

59:39

How do we make magic boards last longer? Gary McNeill and Dave have been experimenting with alternative, non-petrochemical materials for the last decade. The front runner in their experiments? Flax cloth, for board strength and durability. Stab recently ran The Electric Acid Surfboard Test, to explore the validity of their flax tinkerings. This epi…

1
Krista Comer: Reading Power 47:32

1y ago47:32

47:32

How do you better a culture? How do we better surf culture? Dr. Krista Comer is a scholar of American literature and cultural politics. She has written widely about women and surfing as a way "to build bridges between university and community, or subcultural knowledges. Because we need each other to understand the worlds we inhabit, and to make bet…

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Otto Flores: Stepping Up 1:04:06

1y ago1:04:06

1:04:06

Many professional athletes struggle to transition from their sport-as-career. The highs are often out of reach for pedestrian life - especially for pro surfers who spend their years in whirlwinds of hedonistic wave chasing. For Puerto Rican tube connoisseur Otto Flores, the key to transition was community. After many national titles and a spell on …

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Gail Couper: With Bells On 52:35

1y ago52:35

52:35

Called the "most underrated sports person in Australia" and the "greatest Bells surfer of all time” Gail Couper has been both: at the centre and the sideline of surf culture and sport for the better part of her 77 years. She's seen a lot change, and helped to lay the foundation for Aussie surf culture as we know it today. Gail is a five-time nation…

1
Lane Davey: Body Language 58:09

1y ago58:09

58:09

How many kids from Tennessee end up devoting their life to the world's heaviest waves? At least one. That's Lane Davey: Pipe Disciple, PhD, journalist and college lecturer at UH Mānoa. Lane has dedicated much of her adult life to being present in the line-up at Pipeline – she was long the lone woman amongst the sword fight. We trace her unlikely tr…

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Danny Johnson: Don't Overthink It 1:12:53

1y ago1:12:53

1:12:53

We’re getting tangential. This episode is part of a three episode slip slide behind the scenes of a project that Dave’s been working on for the better part of 2024: The Electric Acid Surfboard test. It's a series that explores “alternative” surfboard design. Basically, iconic surfers on left-field, experimental surf craft. Our very own aquatic womb…

1
Jamie Brisick: Breaking the Surface 1:15:02

1y ago1:15:02

1:15:02

Who modelled kindness for you? Who showed you how to be kind and curious in the face of difference? Before he was a Fulbright Scholar, Jamie Brisick surfed on the ASP world tour from 1986 to 1991, and has since documented surf culture extensively. His writings and photographs have appeared in The New Yorker, The New York Times, and The Guardian. Ja…

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Josie Prendergast: Tidal Transitions 1:08:08

1y ago1:08:08

1:08:08

Longevity in any career begs for reinvention. With more than a decade at the pro surfing game, Josie Prendergast has been navigating new waters in her career - by taking the reins on her own storytelling. Born in Siargao and raised in both Australia and the Philippines, Josie is a standout surfer on any craft – from 10+ gliders to fishes – and she’…

1
Hanneke Boon: At the Helm 1:07:55

1+ y ago1:07:55

1:07:55

Did sailing have more to do with early human locomotion than the wheel? Hanneke Boon, head of James Wharram Designs, suggests that may be so. Born in the Netherlands, Hanneke grew up in a sailing family. She was building and sailing Polynesian Catamarans at the age of fourteen and joined the James Wharram team at the age of 20. A gifted artist / gr…

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Bob McTavish: Trim & Wonder 57:56

1+ y ago57:56

57:56

Over the last half century, Bob McTavish has shaped thousands of custom surfboards. Always an innovator in surfboard design and technology, Bob pioneered cutting edge changes to the basic concept of a surfboard. In 1965, he started tinkering with rail and bottom design to maximise performance. This was part of the movement that would become known a…

1
Ruby Southwell: Natural Action 1:18:38

1+ y ago1:18:38

1:18:38

Did you feel safe in your childhood home? If not, were you able to leave, or did you have to stay? Ruby Southwell hit the road, travelling solo for years, searching for guidance. What she found was a deep and clear inner well - and a renewed love for riding waves. At age 22, Ruby moved to Indonesia’s remote Mentawai Islands, where she surf guided, …

1
Brett Burcher: Deep Breaths 1:08:32

1+ y ago1:08:32

1:08:32

What's the most challenging experience you've faced? Did it ultimately hinder or heighten your self-clarity? Brett Burcher is a heavy water specialist - a slab hunter who chases the thickest waves to some of the most far flung locations. He was given an irrevocable invitation to learn to lay down, be still and breathe when he hit the reef and suffe…

1
Levelling Breath Practice with Brett Burcher 7:25

1+ y ago7:25

7:25

As a follow up to our episode with heavy water specialist Brett Burcher we wanted to share a couple of breathwork practices that Brett found most practical in his own life - whether he’s dealing with insomnia, or about to drop into a bomb set wave. This is a levelling breath practice— not an upper or downer -- just a way to reconnect with a gentle …

1
Energising Breath Practice with Brett Burcher 2:39

1+ y ago2:39

2:39

In this bonus episode slab hunter Brett Burcher takes us through an energising breath practice that he’s found useful when you need a little extra pep in your step. This is your reminder: breathe like you mean it. Send us a text ... Listen with Lauren L. Hill & Dave Rastovich Sound + Video Engineer: Ben J Alexander Theme song: Shannon Sol Carroll A…

1
Nidala Barker: Where We Belong 1:36:57

1+ y ago1:36:57

1:36:57

“Whether or not you think you belong to the Earth is irrelevant, for you simply do. By virtue of breathing in you receive a gift of oxygen given by the tree and soil, by virtue of breathing out you gift carbon dioxide to the kelp so the fish may have their home. To accept our shared responsibility to the Earth, IS to remember our belonging.” – Nida…

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Dr. Kevin Stone: How to Play Forever 49:59

1+ y ago49:59

49:59

Why are some octogenarians still surfing, while others struggle to walk up the stairs? It isn’t luck. Harvard and Stanford trained Orthopaedic surgeon Kevin R. Stone, MD, believes that injuries present as opportunities to better our athletic potential - they can make us fitter, faster, and stronger than before. He is the author of Play Forever: How…