The Mark Schulein Passion Project

World champion. Record breaker. Ocean water swimming pioneer. Hall of Famer. Innovator. Author. Commentator. Survivor… and one of the most curious and positive people you may ever meet.   Steven Munatones has spent a lifetime pushing boundaries, chasing extraordinary adventures, and helping shape the world of open water swimming. Growing up in Southern California, Steven developed a passion f...

For nearly four decades, Mick DiBetta’s life has revolved around the ocean; saving lives, racing across it, and coaching some of the world’s best athletes how to master it. Growing up in Brisbane and traveling to Australia’s Gold Coast every weekend, Mick came through the fiercely competitive world of surf lifesaving and ultimately became a professional Gold Coast lifeguard, a career that would sp...

Dave Boehne was pretty much born into the surf world, with saltwater in his blood and foam dust in his hair. The son of legendary surf parents, shaper Steve Boehne and world-champion tandem surfer Barrie Boehne, Dave grew up around the family’s iconic Infinity Surfboards in Coastal Orange County, CA, riding everything he could get his hands on and shaping his first board at 15. He went on to compe...

Dave Kalama isn’t defined by one sport. He’s one of those rare athletes who has spent a lifetime mastering the ocean while helping reinvent how the rest of us experience it; I’ve been watching Dave and his crew and their contributions, in awe, for decades. Born with deep Hawaiian waterman roots, Dave grew up with the ocean in his blood. His father, Ilima, was an early U.S. surfing champion, and hi...

I’ve known Jack Bark since he was a little kid; when he would be onboard his dad’s escort boat during the Catalina Classic Paddleboard Race. Jack is one of the four children of paddling icon and master board builder, Joe Bark; so he’s been immersed in the paddling world since birth. It is definitely in his blood. I’ve been around to watch him go from a young gun to becoming one of the most accompl...

Billy Pratt is a distinguished Hawaiian waterman, community leader, and dedicated guardian of a cultural legacy that reaches far beyond the islands. For decades, Billy has worked to preserve and perpetuate the values embodied by one of Hawaii’s greatest icons, Duke Kahanamoku; Olympic champion, legendary waterman, and Hawaii’s beloved Ambassador of Aloha. As president and longtime director of the...

Dan Mann makes surfboards for some of the best surfers on the planet; and for us normal humans. Dan has been shaping boards for over 30 years and in the last year he’s been showcased through a number of surf programs that highlight the best and most celebrated surfers riding boards that have been made for them by the most accomplished board builders, but under the veil of anonymity.  In the last t...

Growing up, I had amazing images of Shaun Tomson, surfing in Hawaii, gracing my walls. He also had a place on the walls of most everyone I know, and surely on the walls of anyone that surfed in the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s. Shaun surfed the waves and surfed the way we all dreamed of.  Shaun Tomson is a class act. While becoming a Pipe Master in 1975 and a 1977 World Surfing Champion; and winning 19 pro...

Today’s guest is one of the most influential figures in the history of California ocean sports and public safety. Karl ‘Buddy’ Bohn spent four decades as a Los Angeles County Lifeguard, rising through the ranks from tower guard to Section Chief while helping shape one of the most respected ocean rescue organizations in the world. But Buddy’s legacy extends far beyond lifeguarding. In 1982, alongsi...

For more than two decades, Laylan Connelly has been one of the most respected voices covering the people, events, and culture of Southern California’s coastline. As an award-winning journalist for the Orange County Register, she has documented everything from world-class surfing and ocean racing to lifeguard championships, environmental issues, and the everyday stories that define life by the sea...

Chris Mauro is a surfer, journalist, editor, storyteller, and one of surfing’s most respected voices. I’ve known of Chris for nearly 40 years because he’s always seemed to be right in the middle of surfing’s story; documenting it, sharing it, and helping preserve it for future generations. Raised in South Laguna Beach, Chris grew up as a beach kid. Once he found surfing, he immersed himself in it...

Dr. Milica McDowell wants you to move and move well.  Dr. Milica is a Doctor of Physical Therapy, entrepreneur, educator, and USA Today national bestselling author who has spent more than two decades helping people move better, feel better, and live healthier lives. Dr. McDowell specializes in helping people build strength, mobility, resilience, and longevity and has worked with everyone from indi...

Wing Lam is the co-founder and creative force behind  Wahoo’s Fish Taco; the iconic Southern California brand that blends surf culture, street food, and entrepreneurial hustle into one of the country’s most recognizable fast-casual success stories. What started from a long family history of restauranteurs; he and two of his brothers created Wahoo’s, a cool local taco shop, with the desire to be a...

Candice Appleby is a world champion paddler, accomplished surfer, and deeply committed coach whose life has been shaped by the ocean. With roots in Southern California’s surf mecca, she developed into the most dominant force in women’s stand up paddling, and has spent decades in this space, earning global recognition while continuing to evolve as both an athlete, waterwoman and coach. Her success...

Big Tony. For thirty years, that’s all I had known him as and I’m guessing I’m not alone. Like “The Rock”, Sting, or Bono, he doesn’t need more than one name. “Big Tony” is enough. It carries weight. It means something; and it fits. But behind the name is the man: Tony “Big Tony” Alvarez. And while a lot of people know the name, far fewer know the full story. The truth is, his path is deeper, broa...

If you have been involved in surf, skate or snow sports in the last three decades; you’ve been impacted by Thom McElroy.   Thom stands as one of the most influential creative minds to emerge from modern surf culture. Along with Volcom founder Richard Woolcot and co-founder Tucker Hall, he helped redefine what a surf brand could be. And helped shoot it to the moon.   With a background in graphic de...

Joe Nance & KrakenX.ai. At only 19 years old, Joe Nance is bringing artificial intelligence to the lifeguard services with the goal of making the ocean safer by giving lifeguards an additional, powerful, tool to add to their arsenal. Joe started lifeguarding at 16 and he is passionate about it and yet… he, like many tech creators before him, wondered “what if?” While he originally created KrakenX....

Scott Muir is one of the most inspirational and positive people that I’ve been honored to meet. His story is both incredible and so so scary; and through it all he is one of the most upbeat, engaging, and happy people I've met. I got way more out of this interview than Scott has any idea. He thoroughly impacted me and I have very much taken his messages to heart. Scott is a proud husband and paren...

Leanne Stanley is a highly respected, Canadian outrigger canoe paddler, coach, and ocean athlete whose impact spans decades in the paddling community. Known for her grit, discipline, and deep love for the water, Leanne has competed at the highest levels of racing, across numerous paddle craft, earning a reputation as both a fierce competitor and someone that can push through significant obstacles....

Nathan Visagie is on a mission to ride the biggest waves in the world; and he gave himself a pretty short window of time to get there… while documenting it all and sharing his path with the world. Nathan has created a large following of his quest with a super cool, vibrant and honest depiction of the road to doing something that 99.9% of humanity will never experience. Me included. Nathan is captu...

Chuck Patterson may not be a household name but if you’re into extreme sports that happen in massive surf, big mountains, or howling wind, there’s a very good chance you know exactly who he is. And if you don’t know him… you want to. Chuck is also known for his huge smile and infectious positivity. He possesses the unmistakable energy of someone who’s not only incredibly accomplished, but genuinel...

Lauren Kleiman is a dedicated public servant and community leader serving the residents of Newport Beach, CA in numerous community and civic roles. She is a member of the City Council and for 2026 she is serving as Mayor. No small feats. This is especially impressive considering that Lauren grew up on Long Island, New York and had no aspirations for “politics.” But she found herself wanting to be...

Branch Lotspeich is co-founder and Director of the Rescue Tube Foundation, a non-profit based on Kauai, Hawaii, whose mission is to save lives. Is there a more important purpose for an organization? I don’t think so. If you’ve spent time on the Hawaiian islands, there is a good chance that you’ve seen, or been in close proximity to a Rescue Tube. Hopefully you’ve not needed to use one or be saved...

James Merrill is the Founder, CEO and the force behind Stoked Plastics and Opolis Optics; and he is an unapologetic optimist about our ability to fix the worldwide plastics problem. James has built these companies that don’t just talk about sustainability… they literally turn plastic waste into high-performance products. From discarded plastic water bottles to premium materials, his work sits at t...