The Grumpy Surfer Podcast

Adz sits down with former Royal Marine PTI turned actor Martin “Dixie” Dean. The pair first met more than 20 years ago on a Royal Marines free-fall parachuting trip to Florida. They revisit the chaos of that trip before talking about Dixie’s decision to join the Corps at just 16, following two generations of his family into the Royal Marines. Dixie reflects on 24 years of service, from Northern Ireland to Afghanistan, the long wait to be tested in combat and the trust between the men standing beside you when that moment finally arrives. The conversation also explores the mental aftermath of war: compartmentalising difficult experiences, the unexpected guilt some veterans feel when they don’t develop PTSD and how method acting has started bringing emotions and memories back to the surface. After leaving the military, a cancer diagnosis within Dixie’s family changed his perspective completely. Realising he hadn’t pursued the things he truly wanted, he enrolled on an acting degree and began building an entirely new career, proving it’s never too late to start again. They discuss his journey from appearing as an extra in productions including Rogue One and Transformers to chasing his ambition of being part of a BAFTA-winning team. There are also stories of deploying to Afghanistan with basic equipment, improvising vehicle armour, the military habits that never leave you and why Royal Marine PTIs may have been acting long before they ever stepped onto a film set. Finally, Adz and Dixie ask why British military achievements rarely receive the Hollywood treatment, and why there still hasn’t been a major Royal Marines Commando blockbuster. Funny, honest and occasionally raw, this is a conversation about service, identity, ambition and finding a new purpose after the military. Contains strong language and discussion of combat, cancer and mental health. Key topics and timestamps 00:13 Introducing Martin “Dixie” Dean 00:43 How Adz and Dixie first met in DeLand, Florida 02:30 Pool parties, road trips and chaos on the parachuting course 06:34 Joining the Royal Marines at 16 and continuing the family tradition 07:34 Northern Ireland, Afghanistan and waiting to be tested 10:16 Combat, trust and the mental consequences of war 11:33 Compartmentalising military experiences—and acting bringing them back 12:15 Feeling guilty about not developing PTSD 14:34 Why showing emotion isn’t weakness 14:57 Royal Marine PTIs were already performers 16:30 Life after the Corps, self-employment and constantly chasing new ideas 20:35 Dixie’s first acting work on Rogue One and Transformers 21:31 The cancer diagnosis that completely changed his direction 22:20 Starting an acting degree and why you’re never too old 22:38 Military pensions, opportunity and having the courage to change careers 25:34 Adz’s book, cutting 200,000 words down to 95,000 and knowing when to stop 28:45 Two possible follow-up books and the unique surfing-and-military angle 30:50 Why being a PTI translates naturally into acting 31:55 Leaving the Corps and maintaining a connection to military life 34:35 Trying not to become the old sweat constantly spinning war stories 38:20 Deploying to Afghanistan with basic equipment and no modern body armour 40:20 WMIKs, improvised protection and being blown up 42:43 Stunt work, old-school action films and the changing film industry 45:31 The “Adz show”—turning on the performance when people are watching 47:10 Timings, kit and the military habits that never disappear 51:09 Dixie’s acting goals and his ambition to be part of a BAFTA-winning team 53:42 Luck, auditions and the work ethic veterans bring into civilian life 56:40 What military films get right and wrong 59:33 Why Britain doesn’t make more major military films 63:40 Why the Royal Marines deserve a Hollywood blockbuster 65:44 Final thoughts and what comes next

The Grumpy Surfer Podcast is back after a six-month break, with Adz joined by new co-host Mo Morris. What starts as a conversation about Mahara Jiujitsu and building an academy from a village hall into a full-time gym quickly becomes something much bigger. They talk about why success is usually earned rather than lucky, the unseen work behind other people’s “good fortune”, healthy obsession, self-doubt and the strange inability to stop and appreciate what you’ve already achieved. They also get into the similarities between surfing and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, chasing the dopamine hit of progress, protecting your ego on the mats, deliberately training the things you’re bad at and why the environment surrounding a sport can matter as much as the activity itself. Then there’s adulthood, responsibility, military identity, BJJ competition, social-media dogpiles and the surprising question of why criticism from strangers online can sometimes feel harder to handle than actual danger. Honest, funny, occasionally controversial and completely unscripted. Contains strong language.   Key topics and timestamps 00:00 The podcast returns and Mo Morris joins as co-host 01:00 Building Mahara from a village hall into a full-time academy 05:40 Growth, debt and whether a bigger gym would actually be better 08:00 Juggling Mahara, the book, podcast, marketing and family 11:40 “You’re not fortunate. You’ve earned the right.” 14:20 Healthy obsession, failure and the cost of becoming exceptional 16:00 Mo’s mentorship work, self-doubt and feeling like a fraud 18:40 Why age, experience and responsibility can create more overthinking 21:20 Success, dopamine and needing an ever-bigger sense of progress 22:40 Why surfing and BJJ attract a similar type of person 27:20 The environment, community and having somewhere you can be yourself 31:20 Size, ego and learning to train intelligently in BJJ 39:20 Conditioning your sparring and deliberately practising weaknesses 43:40 Do people genuinely tell others their ideas will fail? 45:40 Why children are praised for trying while adults are judged on outcomes 47:40 Social media, negativity and knowing when to switch it off 50:20 Why social-media criticism can feel as uncomfortable as gunfire 53:00 Mo’s decision not to compete and the online backlash it created 58:00 Adz’s upcoming book and preparing for greater exposure 60:40 Opinions, resilience and the gloriously abrupt ending

Ben Powis is the CEO of Surfing England, he along with his team have put English surfing back on the world stage. Ben has made it his mission to source out sponsors, investors and funding streams to facilitate the multifaceted layers of the surfing community in England. In the podcast Ben and Adz discuss surfing and AI, judging, coaching and much more. Ben is an amazing guy, and in the conversation you can hear Ben's passion for growing surfing in England.

Guy Bridge is one of the UK’s most talented and pioneering watermen — a professional kitesurfer and foil surfer from Exmouth, Devon, known for pushing the limits of wind and wave performance. Raised in a family of world-class kitesurfers, Guy has been carving through the air and sea since his early teens, quickly building a name on the international circuit for his technical precision, fearless riding style, and calm, analytical mindset on the water. From racing at world-class speed events to gliding silently across glassy swells on his foil, Guy represents the next evolution of surf and wind sports. Whether he’s talking training, competition mindset, or the feeling of complete freedom that comes from harnessing wind and water as one — Guy’s story is all about flow, focus, and living a life built around the ocean. When he’s not competing or coaching, you’ll find him exploring new breaks, fine-tuning foil setups, and chasing that perfect connection between power, glide, and silence. Adz and Guy sit down and chat about his experiences and froth for riding the oceans waves.

Nick Christy is Jordys Smith's documentarian and surfing film maker, but above all else his friend. Adz and Nick delve into a conversation of what it is like videoing, photographing and documenting one of the World Surf League's best surfers in the last decade. Life with Jordy Smith on tour, some of the best and worst places to film on the Championship Tour. Adz and Nick also chat about Jiujitsu, Nick is a Black Belt in Brazilian Jiujitsu and trains where he can when traveling with Jordy on the WSL CT. A great behind the scenes conversation about surfing and the film making process. Instagram Youtube Jordy Smith Youtube  

Explore a journey of self-discovery and resilience as Adz delve's into the world of surfing, Jiu Jitsu, and personal growth. From setting up a gym in Exmouth to embracing the challenges of life transitions, this discussion highlights the importance of staying anchored and finding passion. Discover how the power of connection and a simple phone call can make a difference in someone's life. Adz discusses the influence of modern technology on sports and how inspiration can be drawn from the latest achievements in surfing and Jiu Jitsu. Whether it's mastering a new technique or maintaining a healthy lifestyle, the key is balance and perseverance. Join us in celebrating the small victories and the strength of community, and remember that sometimes, a little encouragement can go a long way.

Chris Burns is black belt under Rickson Gracie. In the podcast Chris discussed his life in Sydney, Australia, his journey into jujitsu, and the importance of mastering martial arts fundamentals. Chris and Adz also discussed the evolution of martial arts training, the relationship between martial arts and social media, and the focus on self-defence principles rather than sport-oriented techniques.  Chris is a great character, charismatic and passionate about what he does which shows through his social media videos. You and see Chris though the below links.   Insta - @chrisbonesjj             @zeropointsydney (his academy) The BJJ Project -https://www.thebjjproject.com/

Embark on a journey of self-discovery and resilience as Adz and Damo delve into the world of entrepreneurship and the unique challenges faced by those who dare to build their own paths. From the struggles of setting up a business to the importance of pausing and appreciating achievements, this discussion sheds light on the often-overlooked need for self-reflection and celebration in the pursuit of success. Discover the cultural differences in acknowledging success and the vital role of community support among small business owners. We also explore the parallels between business and the physically demanding sport of Brazilian Jiujitsu, highlighting how both require grit, determination, and the ability to adapt to challenges. Hear personal stories of overcoming injuries, cancer and the mental anchors that sports like Jiujitsu and surfing provide, offering not just physical fitness but also mental well-being. Whether you're an entrepreneur, an athlete, or someone striving for personal growth, find inspiration in the stories of perseverance and the power of community in this engaging conversation.

Merry Christmas to you all, this week Adz and Chris delve into a few subject of jiujitsu and grappling. They talk about BJJ belt jealousy, training music, training consistency, YouTube vs Paid Content and there favourite grapplers. Enjoy Baby, HO HO HO.

James Malone is a Former Royal Marine Commando and served 4 years in the Corps. James served on Operation Herrick 9 where half of his section were either killed or injured during the tour. Since leaving James had a varying number of jobs but went back to his calling of film making. He currently is in the final stages of his newest film Once We Were Warriors. This is the films premise: “10 years after the end of operations in Afghanistan, a team of veterans turned filmmakers set out to discover what veteran aftercare truly looks like after conflict. They unearth stories of redemption, redefinition and resilience not only from the people they meet but within themselves.” Adz and James chat about life in the Royal Marines and different firefight stories, life as a civilian, and dealing with memories that will last a lifetime. Enjoy this was a interesting chat with a great guy !