On Water: The Session Mag Podcast

In this episode of On Water , we sit down with acclaimed photographer, filmmaker, and creative director Chris Burkard to explore his latest project, A Northern Life . Created in partnership with apparel icon Faherty, this 14-minute film offers a sweeping yet intimate portrait of life among Iceland’s northern fjords, a place which Burkard has called home for years. Through stunning panoramics and d...

In this episode of On Water , I sit down with Glenn Hening, founding father of the Surfrider Foundation , to dive deep into the relaunch of his powerful book, Waves of Warning. Glenn’s narrative is more than a story—it’s an exploration of what happens when cultures collide against the backdrop of the ocean’s unlimited energy. The book, divided into Volumes I and II, creates the perfect stage for a...

In this powerful episode of On Water, we sit down with Capt. Jon Hoover , a seasoned Search & Rescue (SAR) expert, water safety and risk management specialist and all-around waterman. With a rich history spanning big wave surfing, offshore sailboat racing, distance paddling, and an impressive career in water safety, Jon Hoover is one of the most respected figures in his field. From teaching Oc...

Professional free surfer Otto Flores is widely known for his remarkable surfing skills, riding the waves of Puerto Rico and beyond with style and precision. But what truly sets him apart isn’t just his skill on a surfboard; it’s his deep commitment to his community, his thoughtfulness around land development and his passion to protect PR’s marine ecosystems. Through his philanthropic efforts, Otto...

Paige Alms needs no introduction. A frontrunner and a mainstay in the big wave surfing arena, Paige has set records for women’s surfing at Pe’ahi, competed in The Eddie at Waimea, chased surging barrels around the globe and - when at home - enjoys gardening and making sourdough bread. Paige’s insight and wisdom into the world of surfing comes from a lifetime of commitment to putting in the time on...

Pink beanies made from the dye of purple sea urchins? Biodiversity blocks to plant a mangrove tree?? Tapping into the business mindset to achieve audacious goals on a scalable, fast track plan to protect our coastal ecosystems? This is not your ordinary environmental non-profit. This is SeaTrees . Business acumen + passion for the environment is what SeaTrees co-founder, Michael Stewart brings to...

In this episode, Edo Tanas - last year’s inaugural Koa Kai Triple Crown champion for downwind foiling - gives his insights around the importance of equipment choices for competitive events, his recent travel escapades, love of fishing and what his future goals look like. One thing is certain: Edo will be found on the water either in Hawaii or around the world for 2025. His positive energy and good...

Kai Lenny's extraordinary skill set across multiple disciplines informs his approach towards board design and shaping. Plus, it gives him a unique perspective for always pushing the boundaries across the spray of watersports.   For this episode of On Water: The Session Magazine Podcast , we find Kai at home on Maui developing his board shaping skills while enjoying the extensive R&D he is doin...

Cornwall Free Surfer and Pro Longboarder Michael Lay takes us on a journey from surfing around the globe, chasing dreams and photographs, to reinstilling his original passion for surfing through digging into his roots back home along the U.K.'s rugged seascape. In this episode, we dive into Mike's decade-long career as a professional free surfer, his love of the wild Cornish coast and his commitme...

Marguerite Hofmeyr offers a deep download of wisdom around ocean conservation and activism through her experiences as Managing Director at Ocean Sentinel Alliance, So. Africa's Board Member for Parley for the Oceans and more in this compelling conversation around her personal connection to water, the aftermath of Apartheid and how it has separated indigenous Africans from their relationship with t...

Surfer/Author/Visionary John Angiulo explains how everything this made up of waves. In his recent book, "Surfing Saves" Angiulo outlines a bold plan to protect the planet by Connecting our wisdom and experience on the water to building communities worldwide that thrive on regenerative agriculture, Circular systems and the preservation of our planet.  

Author of Blue Mind, Wallace J. Nichols Delves into the Science and Philosophy Behind how Being on, in or near Water Positively Affects our Mental Health and Well Being.

In this episode, Dr. Cliff Kapono shares his dual passion for surfing and science. We dive into his current project at MegaLab - a non-profit ocean research facility in Hilo, Hawaii - which implements modern technology to map our world’s reef systems. The project's goal is to have over 1 million reefs documented by 2030 and train an army of citizen scientists to help.  As he says in this deep dive...

Chase Lieder was awarded the WSL longboard wild card entry for the tour in 2023 after a mesmerizing performance at the Mexilog Fest in Salyulita. Now, this 19-year-old Montauk native is gunning for the Olympics.

New York big wave surfer Will Skudin recaptures the mayhem of tow surfing into a recent massive swell at Mavericks in this week’s episode of On Water. Skudin goes down hard under the lip in a smackdown on his second wave that day, which has already proven itself to be one of the biggest in recent history. The images of this wipeout are surreal. Will’s resilient attitude about getting back on the s...

Lindsey Tilton completes 48 hours at the Last Paddler Standing endurance SUP race in Sarasota, Florida. The previous female record was held at 13 hours. Lindsey talks about her mental preparation to withstand the rigors of Last Paddler Standing, her personal 'Why' for competing in the event (powerful) and future goals which include the 2024 Crossing for Cystic Fibrosis 80-mile event as a competiti...

How do we express ourselves within the space of the lineup? What is our spiritual connection to the water and each other through surfing? These questions and more are developed in this week's deep dive into conversation with surf goddess Leah Dawson. Leah's unique style, exploratory thought process and water wisdom take us on a journey from the mundane to the mystical as we talk about shifting per...

We caught up with a very tired Ben Gravy two days after his return home from Norway after surfing seven different oceans in only seven days.  From Japan to Indonesia to Australia to Texas to New Jersey to Norway took Ben and his team over 30,000 miles in the span of one week in order to surf the world's seven oceans, Ben Gravy style. In this episode, Ben unpacks the dream, the gritty reality of fl...

Chris Bertish dropped by the podcast studio in Montauk, NY on his North American inspirational speaking and book tour for ALL IN:  The Atlantic Standup Paddle Crossing, and offers some rich detail behind this monumental feat. In this episode of On Water, Chris talks about his motivation to paddle the 4050NM across the Atlantic, solo and unsupported, discusses the building of his unique standup pad...

Gaelin Rosenwaks was inspired at an early age to take action in protecting marine life through a transformative experience with a beached whale on Long Island. Today, this renowned Marine Scientist makes her mark by documenting research expeditions that bring to the public the science behind what is being done to protect our word's oceans.  From the deepest blue hole, to swimming with sperm whales...

16-year old Noah is a Rookie on the USA Snowboard Team, training at the Stratton Mountain School in Vermont and spending his summers surfing the waves in Montauk, NY. Noah is a class act, full of fun, surrounded by friends who push him and grateful for the opportunity to ride for the US Snowboard Team.  He also has his sights set on going pro for the 2026 Olympic Games.  

Zane Schweitzer takes us on a deep dive into the days after the wildfires destroyed his hometown of Lāhainā. In this episode, Zane gives his first interview 8 days following the worst natural disaster in the Hawaiian islands' history and his personal story of how those days unfolded.  Zane's raw perspective offers a stunning glimpse into how his gratitude for life, the resilience of the Hawaiian p...

Dylan Stott, formerly of NY and now a fixture in Ireland's big wave surf scene, contributes regularly to Session Magazine. In this episode, he details his childhood growing up on Long Island (Southampton) and his quest to challenge himself in larger surf, a search that sends him to Oahu's North Shore and then to the cold coast of Ireland where he now lives on a farm with his family within view of...

Brian Talma of Barbados is an extraordinary personality in the world of watersports. Filled with passion, an artistic nature, and dedication to his bajan culture, in this interview Brian shares about what it's been like to cultivate and live the beach culture way of life. From humble beginnings, this present day global watersport athlete and world champion leads with his heart. Learn more about Ta...

"Life is for the adventurous. That's the attitude we take whenever embarking on a journey devoid of upfront details but rich in downstream rewards. Pulling the trigger on a trip with a list of unanswered questions is the essence of adventure. Such was the case of our Foil X excursion to Central America..." Hear Session Magazine Publisher Russ Scully retell the tale of the journey to a coveted foil...