On a Rising Swell with Dan Reiter

Dr. Jason Old is a surfer, historian, and storyteller who’s spent decades chasing waves and uncovering the deeper stories behind them. With a PhD in Latin American history, he’s lived and surfed in Nicaragua, Peru, and Bali, researching how surf culture shapes local communities and economies. Jason also hosts The Surfing Historian podcast, where he dives into the history and culture of surfing around the world. In our conversation, we explore the rise of Nicaraguan surf, its connection to Sandinista history, and his new project, Waverii—linking surf travelers with locals to make surf trips more meaningful. Enjoy! @surfinghistorian Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Pro surfer and entrepreneur Holly Beck joins us to share her incredible journey — from competing on the world tour to building Surfing With Amigas, one of the most inspiring women’s surf camp communities in the world. Now expanding into family and men’s trips, Holly has perfected the ultimate surf getaway experience. We dive into surfing, travel, entrepreneurship, and creating a life fueled by passion, purpose, and adventure. If you love waves, wanderlust, and fearless reinvention, this episode is a must-listen! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From the pool to the ocean, Scott Smith’s journey has been anything but ordinary. A former water polo player turned filmmaker, Scott built his career behind the lens with Body Glove and PADI, where his natural eye for action and storytelling translated seamlessly into surf cinematography and editing. His work has taken him around the globe. Scott’s close friendship and collaboration with the late Greg Browning—Momentum Generation standout, filmmaker, and creator of the beloved Drive Thru series—was central to the making of A Marble in the Jar. Enjoy this chat with Scott. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Carrying the Florida flag, filmmaker and photographer Paul Prewitt captured unforgettable East Coast surf footage from 1985 to 1988—from West Palm Beach to New Hampshire and beyond—mesmerizing audiences with A+ setups and raw talent in Atlantic Crossing. After a successful career in film and television, Paul is now turning his focus to documenting the rich history of surf filmmaking and photography. In this episode, we explore pivotal moments from his creative journey, the evolution of surf media, and his latest passion project. It’s a conversation filled with insight, inspiration, and a deep love for surf culture and storytelling. Tune in and enjoy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Lakey Peterson is a professional surfer from Santa Barbara, California, known for her progressive aerial maneuvers and athletic approach to surfing. She began surfing at a young age and quickly rose through the ranks, winning multiple NSSA titles and becoming a force on the World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour. Beyond her competitive achievements, Lakey is also an advocate for environmental causes and children's cancer research, and she's a team rider for 805 Beer, recently releasing a documentary about her journey called Making Waves.  Enjoy our chat with Lakey. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Richard Yelland's Birth of the Endless Summer starring Dick Metz is a masterpiece. Cataloguing the inimitable journeyman's anecdotes, love affairs, and risky passages across the globe in the late fifties and beyond, Richard puts his documentary chops on display along with priceless photos and interviews with key players in what played a massive role in Bruce Brown's denouement in The Endless Summer. Listen in to how Richard found his way into the project and others. You can find said masterpiece on all major digital platforms. Enjoy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The birth of Wave Tools became an instant curiosity when Robert Helphand and Tony Gentile interviewed Lance Collins for a different project back in 2018. That interview ignited a documentary project seven years in the making called Shaping the Future. Robert and Tony detailed the engineering and design of new shapes and techniques, and brought to cinematic life the loud, aggressive logos and surfing, all heavily photographed on Echo Beach in Newport, CA. Enjoy our chat with these two top quality craftsmen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For those of you who didn't get to listen to Ben Whyte and Ali Mancuso on Episode 68 - Breaking Waves Sailing, don't fret, you can always go back and listen first, but it's not necessary. They have a wonderful story to tell here about crossing the pacific as rookies on a 41' sailboat named Kiana. Through an unexpected dry dock on a reef and a month long sabbatical near Tavarua, as well as some empty anchorages in paradise, you'll capture a moment of pure stoke with them. But experience it all through their storytelling on Breaking Waves Sailing on YouTube. Enjoy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A writer first, Dan developed a love for surfing in the cold San Francisco water and turned heavily towards his move to Florida in his latest work On a Rising Swell, a memoir slash collection of his best work with surfing as a central character. Take the time to read this fantastic rendering from the mind of one of surfing's best new contributors. Our chat covers his stories and inspiration as well as his humble, positive, and soulful voice. Enjoy and check out his new book here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sam George, surfer, writer, and filmmaker, has entertained readers and audiences with his gift of storytelling for years. The stories take many forms and many new threads come alive in his new work Child of Storms - A Surfing Memoir (In Progress), available at diangelopublications.com. In addition to this writer's life, he's also made one of the best documentary films about surfing that no one has seen. It premiered at Cannes Film Festival in 2010, and now, he's sharing it with us at the Florida Surf Film Festival on June 13-14, 2025. Enjoy Sam's gift for storytelling. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices