Second Breakfast with Surf With Amigas

What helps you send it on steep drops? Our amiga Sara Moran has a knack for relentlessly throwing herself over beach break ledges despite the gnarly wipeouts that ensue. She claims she LOVES wiping out, she considers it to be a liberating, “micro-rebirth” experience. In this episode we take a dive into Sara’s surf journey and philosophy. We explore how she manages her mindset with fear and growth;...

Ever wondered what zero gravity feels like? Since age 3, Kelly Latimer wanted to be an astronaut. Her dreams were initially thwarted by uncontrollable health conditions, so she chose to join the Air Force as a pilot instead. But after years working, an opportunity to travel to space soon arose. She was hired to fly for Virgin Galactic, working in a new niche: space tourism. In this episode we chat...

As the daughter of two psychologists, Brooke Kettering grew up fascinated by the psyche and how drugs affect the brain. Through her studies in neuroscience and psychology, as well as her own therapeutic experiences with psychedelic drugs, Brooke was inspired to become a ketamine therapist. In this conversation, we chat about the new psychedelic movement, along with other mental health topics and t...

In today’s episode we chat with intrepid traveler Christen Powell, who took off on a year-long solo travel journey after the devastating passing of her husband. After experiencing such a loss, Christen sought community and support outside of her surroundings. She was inspired to start her travels by solo walking the Camino de Santiago. That journey was the first time she ever started to feel joy a...

Born from a dream and a thrifted sewing machine in San Clemente, California, the women’s surfing apparel brand Seea was formed. In this episode, Holly chats with Seea founder Amanda Chinchelli about the brand's creation, production, philosophy and goals. We chat about Amanda’s unique surf upbringing in Italy and her ultimate exposure to the California surf lifestyle, from San Francisco to San Clem...

 What fills your cup? Where do you find your joy? During a midlife crisis when she felt like she had hit rock bottom, amiga Brandy couldn’t answer those questions. It wasn’t until she signed up for a bodybuilding competition when her life completely changed. She discovered the science of clean eating and nutrition while learning how to prioritize and assert herself. Her new-found passion allowed h...

Today we chatted with Lara Shea, a veteran amiga and author of Mom’s Night Out . Listen in as she dives into her writing and publishing journey; we explore book writing, the learning process of not caring what people think and stepping aside from self consciousness in order to have more fun and achieve your goals. Lara also offers advice to others who are interested in writing and some book recomm...

In this episode Holly and Jackie chat with SWA instructor and content creator, Shea Schwennicke about their new project: the Surf With Amigas Collective. The Collective is everything you love about Surf With Amigas retreats, made more accessible. With this new platform, we aim to create entertaining yet informative content and tutorials designed to empower and educate women, in surfing and in life...

What would you do if you lost all of your possessions? For SWA trip leader and surf instructor Laila, she’d spin a story of positivity and say: "at least I didn’t have much to begin with, so there’s not much to replace." Listen as she tells her adventurous life story, one that has landed her in Mexico living simply on a plot of land with her best friend and partner. Her surf journey began in Austr...

For former amiga Alexis Lee, getting tubed is more than just a physical experience. Charging waves has allowed her to transcend motherhood and regain autonomy and strength. Alexis’ life was completely changed after she started surfing in her 30s during a trip in Costa Rica. She feels that her motherhood journey has clearly coincided with her surfing journey; both experiences have been filled with...

Former professional longboard surfer Julie Cox grew up inland from the beaches of Malibu and became an avid beach-goer at a young age. But it wasn’t until age 15 that she discovered longboarding and fell in love, despite the shortboarding craze of the 80s. In this episode  we chat about the barriers to women’s surfing and longboarding in particular; Julie felt the need to become an entrepreneur du...

It can be intimidating to go on a surf trip alone in a new place. 7 time SWA retreat-goer Jacquie Maupin has learned to appreciate the small wins in surfing; she considers herself a vacation surfer and perpetual advanced beginner. In this episode we dive into some of her surf travel stories, misadventures with surf buddies and discover what it means to expect the unexpected while traveling. For th...

Global entrepreneur, Katie Baric, shares a story of travel and spirituality that led her to Peru in 2016, where she developed a center for public health in an extremely vulnerable community. With the help of an international volunteer team, she created a community center with access to education, empowering classes and discounted preventative health services. In this chat, we dive into spiritualit...

Today we chatted with Ellie Miller, a midwife and former labor and delivery nurse with plenty of expertise in all things women’s health. We shine light on your most-asked, yet unanswered questions about what’s going on with your lady bits; from perimenopause/menopause symptoms and treatment options to surprising facts about the vagina, surfing while pregnant and postpartum, menstrual cups, how to...

At one point or another, we’ve all played around with the romantic idea of dropping everything and moving abroad. Former amiga Camille Cunningham made that idea her reality when she decided she’d had enough of her corporate job in San Diego and wanted to spend more time with her kids. So, five years ago she walked away from life in the United States and moved to Mexico with her family. Listen for...

Have you ever questioned your belonging in the lineup? Societal pressures and our struggles on land often mirror our experiences in the water. Shazia Mazhar is a firm believer in creating safe spaces to cultivate support and community in surfing. Her surfing life began in her 40s in Toronto, where she started stand-up paddle boarding in the Great Lakes. Shazia is an active and outdoorsy person, bu...

Everyone has their own unique experience with grief. While grief is universal, whether the loss is a pet, relationship, loved one, or lifestyle, it can be experienced in many different ways, none of which are right or wrong. Kelsey Ellis, a lifelong surfer, lost her twin sister to COVID complications in the very early and confusing days of the pandemic. She and Holly, who has also lost a sister, s...

Recovering over-functioner Molly Pope explains how surf travel and rediscovering play helped her reclaim her true sense of self.  Surf retreats changed Molly Pope’s life, allowing her to play and reclaim her autonomy and independence. In her late 30s, Molly was fully focused on caring for her family, two young boys aged 3 and 6 and a husband who was a suffering alcoholic. Molly characterized herse...

Are you willing to lose your privilege in the lineup to uplift someone else? Is surf etiquette linked to the patriarchy? In today’s episode we explore these questions and more. Holly chats with Lizelle Jackson, co-founder of the non-profit Color the Water, a community for BIPOC to reclaim space in the ocean through joyful, defiant anti-racist surf lessons, celebrations, education, and media. Lizel...

In this episode, we chat with Alix Tucker, owner of the financial coaching business financewithalix.com. Alix chats a bit about her life path in finance and how she discovered more of a work-life balance after surfing became a daily part of her routine. After working in the tech and finance industry for many years, she created her own financial consulting business, eager to share her knowledge wit...

Every one of us has experienced stress and trauma, often beginning back in childhood. Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Former Amiga Tracey discusses her journey growing up and living with mental health issues and chronic pain, various career paths and motherhood, eventually finding surfing and healing in the ocean, and creating a holistic Pain and Trauma clinic. In this episode, we discu...

About 20 years ago Christie Carr moved to Pavones, Costa Rica with her soulmate Pat and took over a business called The Yoga Farm. Christie has lived a life of trusting her gut; when she sees something she wants, she goes for it. Listen as she takes us on a journey of love and recalls the creation of her unconventional life as a female business owner based deep in the jungle. Our talk ranges from...

What does home mean to you? For Groundswell Community Project creator and SWA instructor Natalie Small, home has a bit of an unconventional definition. Home has almost always either been on a sailboat or wherever her next plane ticket took her.  But for the first time in over 10 years, she has settled into a “land home” in San Diego, where she is learning to reclaim her sense of home and self. Hol...

Do you pursue what you love? Amiga, stand-up comedian and artist JJ Barrows shares her inspiring story about how it’s never too late to find and follow your passions. The ocean has served as JJ’s medicine throughout life; helping manage fear and anxiety while also illuminating her talents and encouraging change. In her early days of surfing, JJ struggled to belong and find community. Listen as she...

Many expecting mothers think that their surf lives won’t have to change when they have kids. But the reality is, our bodies and lives take quite the turn after bringing another human being into the world. In this episode, Ruby, a former SWA coach, gets raw and real with the truth about surfing after kids. She chats about the initial shock of her pregnant life, going from thinking that she’d be liv...