The Optimist: Greg Wachsteter

We have a very special episode for you today. We had the good fortune to be asked to host a live Q&A with the 5x WSL Women’s World Champion and Olympic Gold Medalist, Carissa Moore at PIlgrim Surf & Supply to help promote her new book with Rizzoli Publishing named Hawaii Gold. The book is stunning and is Carissa’s homage to her home islands of Hawaii. Our conversation explores her journey  as she reflects on her illustrious career, cultural roots in Hawaii, and community support through events, book launches, and advocacy work. We delve into Moore's achievements, gender equality views, mental health initiatives, and post-retirement projects, encapsulating a vivid portrayal of Moore's life beyond the waves. We hope you enjoy this very special episode of the Swell Season Podcast. For more information on Carissa's Book, Hawaii Gold, you can purchase a copy here:Hawaii GoldYou can follow Carissa here on Instagram at @rissmoore10To Learn more about the Moore Aloha Non-Profit you can go to www.moorealoha.comand follow at @moorealohaSpecial thanks to Martynka & Don from Rizzoli Books, Chris from Pilgrim Surf & Supply, & Andy Wang for the music and good vibes. The Swell Season Podcast is recorded by The NewsStand Studio at Rockefeller Center in the heart of Manhattan and is distributed by The Swell Season Surf Radio Network. www.swellseasonsurfradio.comMusic:Band: Gabby PahinuiSong: Wahine U'iAlbum: Gabby Pahinui Hawaiian Band, Vol. 1Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/swell-season--3483504/support.

On this episode, we sit and talk with Stylist and Rockaway resident, Jesse James.  Our conversation follows her journey from Martha's Vineyard to NYC, reflecting on the fusion of community, identity, and the dynamic blend of culture and surfing. We delve into her evolving career and how her unique style and blend of thrift store savvy helped to lead her on an unexpected path. We tackle some of her past life challenges and her fond memories of a dear friend who recently passed.  Jesse embodies some of the best qualities of surfing and community. We are stoked to have her as a guest on this episode. We hope you enjoy... For more information on Jesse, you can check out her website: www.Jessejamesstyles.com or you can follow here on Instagram at @skelly_sisterThe Swell Season Podcast is recorded by The NewsStand Studio at Rockefeller Center in the heart of Manhattan and is distributed by The Swell Season Surf Radio Network. www.swellseasonsurfradio.comMusic:Band: Sure SureSong: This Must Be The PlaceAlbum: Sure SureBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/swell-season--3483504/support.

On this episode, Our guest John Zator and Host Tyler Breuer explore the profound impact of Lido Surf and Sport on New York's surfing scene during the mid 90's. We delve into John's journey, highlighting the shops innovative approach to building a vibrant community hub. John also reflects on his personal triumphs, health struggles, and the transformative power of surfing, emphasizing the enduring importance of community, love, and self-discovery in the face of adversity. John's influence on NY surfing cannot be understated. He helped to lay the foundation of what was to come. We hope you enjoy this special episode. The Swell Season Podcast is recorded by The NewsStand Studio at Rockefeller Center in the heart of Manhattan and is distributed by The Swell Season Surf Radio Network. www.swellseasonsurfradio.comMusic:Band: The Grateful DeadSong: Ripple (Live)Album: ReckoningBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/swell-season--3483504/support.

In this episode of the WeSurf podcast, Kwame LaBassiere interviews two female surfers, Berna and Beah, about their experiences in the surfing community. They discuss how they got into surfing and the challenges they faced as beginners. The conversation also touches on the importance of etiquette in the lineup and the gray areas surrounding who has the right of way. Additionally, they explore the unique experiences and perspectives of being female surfers in a predominantly male-dominated sport. The conversation touched on various topics related to surfing, including representation in the water, and the impact of surfing on their lives. The speakers discussed the lack of diversity in surfing, with it being predominantly a sport for white cis males. They also shared their personal experiences in the water and how their gender and ethnicity may have influenced those experiences. Lastly, they discussed the positive changes that surfing has brought to their lives. They also discuss how surfing can be incorporated into a business, as Berna has done with her surf-inspired clothing brand. The guests share their favorite pre and post-surf meals and their favorite surf spots. They also answer some fun rapid-fire questions.  They discuss the joy of catching waves and the sense of freedom and connection with nature that surfing brings. They also talk about the physical and mental challenges of surfing, including the importance of patience and perseverance. The conversation concludes with a fun segment where they answer questions about surfers and their habits.The WeSurf Podcast is recorded by The NewsStand Studio at Rockefeller Center in the heart of Manhattan and is distributed by The Swell Season Surf Radio Network. www.swellseasonsurfradio.comBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/swell-season--3483504/support.

Patrick Trefz is a multitalented individual known for his work as a photographer, chef, painter, and filmmaker. Trefz has gained recognition for his documentaries, including Thread, Idiosyncrasies, Surfer's Blood, and Man in the Field, which have received acclaim and featured in various publications. In his latest project, Ode to Travel, Trefz's explores the world mixing the metropolitan and the deeply rural by bringing food and culture together in this latest book of recipes and photography.Ode to Travel captures Trefz's innate ability as a traveler to become part of the scenes he finds himself in, not merely as an observer, but as a participant, connecting landscape, seascape, people and food. The book celebrates a worldview of a globe deeply layered and how cultures define communities in the form of its food, traditions and the simple pleasures that bring color to living.  Ode to Travel includes thirty-five recipes from the places Trefz's has come to know intimately. Each recipe that is included is an invitation to experience the local communities through their flavors and traditions.This is his third title with Powerhouse Books, and Patrick Trefz is here with us at the Newsstand Studio at Rockefeller Center. We hope you enjoy... To learn more about Patrick Trefz and Ode to Travel go to https://powerhousebooks.com/ode-to-travel-by-patrick-trefz-in-lookout-santa-cruz/ Or follow him on Instagram at @patricktrefz The Swell Season Podcast is distributed by The Swell Season Surf Radio Network. www.swellseasonsurfradio.comMusic:Band: KraftwerkSong: The ModelAlbum: The Man-MachineBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/swell-season--3483504/support.

Welcome to episode 7 of the We Surf podcast. Often you will hear surfers referred to as Wave Dancers. On this episode we meet wave dancers who are also ballet dancers. Mei and Shui Lee or as their instagram handle refers to them as The Lee Twins. Kwame discusses speaks to them about how and why they started surfing. How their dance background has helped their surfing. And some of the experiences they have had in the water, both negative and positive. Their energy is infectious and you don’t have to see them to tell that they were smiling throughout the entire conversation while simultaneously exhibiting wisdom that goes beyond their 17 years. Hope you enjoy it.The WeSurf Podcast is recorded by The NewsStand Studio at Rockefeller Center in the heart of Manhattan and is distributed by The Swell Season Surf Radio Network. www.swellseasonsurfradio.comFollow the WeSurf Podcast on Instagram @wesurfpodcastBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/swell-season--3483504/support.

Welcome to episode 6 of the WeSurf podcast. This episode is done a little differently. Co-host Kwame Labassiere, recorded this episode while in Puerto Rico at the International Surf Therapy Organization conference. While there he interviewed professional surfer Chris Dennis from Trinidad and Tobago. Chris is the co-founder of Waves for Hope, an organization that runs youth development programs that utilize surfing and mentorship to provide positive psychology education to at-risk youths in under-served communities across Trinidad & Tobago.Kwame talks to Chris about his upbringing in Trinidad and Tobago, his journey to surfing professionally and the challenges he faced, along with his ongoing commitment to surf therapy through his organization, Waves for Hope. The conversation explores key moments and influences in Chris's life, his perspectives on surfing, and experiences on the international circuit. The back and forth is lively, peppered with humor and insightful anecdotes. We hope you enjoy listening as much as we enjoyed recording it. To find out more about Waves for Hope go to: www.waves-for-hope.orgor follow Chris Dennis at @chrisdennis_1The WeSurf Podcast is recorded by The NewsStand Studio at Rockefeller Center in the heart of Manhattan and is distributed by The Swell Season Surf Radio Network. www.swellseasonsurfradio.comFollow the WeSurf Podcast on Instagram @wesurfpodcastBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/swell-season--3483504/support.

Sarah Aziza and Caleb Winship are two star crossed lovers, Sarah, is Palestinian and Caleb is Jewish. In the shadow of the horrific events taking place in the middle east, they provide a light and hope for the future. Sarah and Caleb share how they met and developed their relationship. Sarah, as a Palestinian-American, talks about her upbringing, struggling with her identity, and navigating the challenges of an increasingly complex political landscape. Caleb, who is Jewish, shares his experiences and realizations about Zionism and his journey towards understanding the complexities of the Israeli-Palestinian situation. We also touch upon how Caleb is slowly converting Sarah to surfing. They also discuss their experiences with injustice, prejudice, and the importance of standing up for human rights. They also discuss the concept of Zionism, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and their experiences living in various countries and societies. They touch upon various subjects like Scriptural teachings, politics, and personal anecdotes while advocating for dialogue and understanding as they navigate the complexities of their relationship. We hope you listen with an open mind to their experiences. We we kindly ask that any comments or feedback be constructive and approached with respect and decency. Thank you. The Swell Season Podcast is distributed by The Swell Season Surf Radio Network. www.swellseasonsurfradio.comSarah Aziza is based in Brooklyn as a freelance journalist covering feminism and foreign affairs. She graduated magna cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania and received a master’s in journalism from N.Y.U. She received a Fulbright scholarship in which she taught, in 2014 and 2015, at a school primarily for Palestinian refugees in Jordan through the United Nations Work and Relief Agency. Her journalism, poetry, essays, and experimental nonfiction have appeared in the New Yorker, the Baffler, Harper’s Magazine, the New York Times, the Atlantic, and many other prestigious publications. She is currently working on her first book, a hybrid work of memoir, lyricism, and oral history exploring the intertwined legacies of diaspora, colonialism, and the American dream. You can find her writing here: https://www.sarahaziza.com Some of the recommended organizations & reading suggestions: Jews for Racial & Economic JusticeJewish Voices for PeachThe Institute of Middle East UnderstandingNora ErakatIlan PappeRashid Khalidi Martyr Made Podcast: Fear and Loating in the New JerusalemArtist: Marvin GayeSong: What's Going OnAlbum: What's Going OnBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/swell-season--3483504/support.

On this episode, Guest Host Toddy Stewart brings back onto the show, filmmaker, artist, publisher and all around amazing person, Mick Sowry. The two take a deep dive into his life as it revolves around his surfing experience, his career transitions and creative processes in art and photography. Mick opens up about his relationship with his wife late wife, Sue and how he coped with her loss, and his insights about life and aging. This episode also touches on Mick's involvement in projects such as the Great Ocean Quarterly, Musica Surfica, and The Reef and explores his thoughts on the current environmental challenges faced by the world today. It's a truly beautiful interview. We hope you enjoy... For more information on Mick Sowry's work you can go to https://www.micksowry.com or follow him on Instagram at @micksowryThe Swell Season Podcast is recorded by The NewsStand Studio at Rockefeller Center in the heart of Manhattan and is distributed by The Swell Season Surf Radio Network. www.swellseasonsurfradio.com Music: Artis: Neil YoungSong: Dreamin' ManAlbum: Harvest MoonBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/swell-season--3483504/support.

On this episode of WeSurf Nigel and Kwame speak with documentary filmmaker and reborn surfer Mosiah Moonsammy. An award winning filmmaker based in NYC, Mosiah's last project “Last Bodega In Brooklyn” played internationally on the film festival circuit and was received with rave reviews. After meeting Nigel at Station RBNY, Mosiah became interested in telling Nigel’s story and showing the world what a black owned surf shop in the Northeast of the US means to surfers of color through his current work in progress documentary, “Black Surfers in the Concrete Jungle”. The Film explores the exposure and expansion of Black Culture through the lens of Nigel Louis and the black surfing commmunity. As always the energy is positive and the vibes as are right.To find out more about the project and other work by Mosiah go to www.mosiahmakesmoves.com Or you can follow him on Instagram @mosiahmakesmovesThe WeSurf Podcast is recorded by The NewsStand Studio at Rockefeller Center in the heart of Manhattan and is distributed by The Swell Season Surf Radio Network. www.swellseasonsurfradio.comFollow the WeSurf Podcast on Instagram @wesurfpodcastBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/swell-season--3483504/support.