Tappa's Green Room Podcast

This episode is sponsored by Official Beer Co. Produced by Podfire In this episode of Tappa’s Green Room, Terry “Tappa” Teece sits down with Brian and Donna McDonald, the duo behind a stunning surf resort in Fiji. What started as a simple dream of owning a tropical getaway quickly evolved into a decades-long journey of hard work, risk, and passion. The conversation dives into how a spontaneous lan...

This episode is sponsored by Official Beer Co. Produced by Podfire. In Episode 39 of The Green Room, Tappa is joined by Dr. Christina Pomar alongside legendary surfer and 1965 World Champion Felipe Pomar to dive deeper into the mission behind their movement “Surf Till 100.” Christina, a doctor of natural medicine, PhD in holistic nutrition, advanced yoga teacher, and longevity researcher, shares t...

This episode is sponsored by Official Beer Co. Produced by Podfire. From pioneering big waves in 1950s Peru to surviving a tsunami at sea, this is one of the wildest stories ever told in The Green Room. In Episode 38, Tappa sits down with 1965 International Surfing Federation World Champion Felipe Pomar — a true surfing trailblazer. Felipe shares what it was like surfing 8–12ft waves at just 14 ye...

This episode is brought to you by Official Beer Co. Produced by Podfire. In Episode 37 of Tappa’s Green Room , Tappa sits down with one of the most influential figures in Australian surfing history — Robert “Bushy” Mitchell. From growing up on a rural farm near the Victorian–NSW border to discovering surfing at Moffat Beach, Bushy’s journey mirrors the grassroots evolution of competitive surfing i...

In Episode 36 of Tappa’s Green Room , Terry “Tappa” Teece sits down with Australian surfing legend Paul Neilsen for a deep dive into the formative years of professional surfing on the Gold Coast and beyond. From growing up in a near-empty Surfers Paradise and borrowing boards as a kid, to charging Hawaiian waves, winning Bells Beach in 1971, and taking out the prestigious Smirnoff Pro-Am, Paul ref...

This episode is brought to you by Official Beer Co. Produced by Podfire. In Episode 35 of Tappa’s Green Room , Tappa sits down with Burleigh Heads standout and World Tour campaigner Liam O’Brien for an honest, wide-ranging chat about the realities of professional surfing. From growing up surfing raw Victorian coastlines to becoming a Burleigh Boardriders mainstay, Liam reflects on how his early ye...

This episode is brought to you by Official Beer Co. Produced by Podfire. In this episode of Tappa’s Green Room , Terry “Tappa” Teece is joined by surfing legend, journalist, conservationist, and Chairman of the Gold Coast World Surfing Reserve, Andrew McKinnon . The conversation centres on the upcoming World Surfing Conservation Conference (WSCC) 2026 , an international gathering set to take place...

Sponsored by Official Beer Co. Produced by Podfire. In this episode of Tappa’s Green Room , Terry “Tappa” Teece sits down with young surfing talent Leihani Zoric , whose passion, determination, and natural connection to the ocean have already made her one to watch. Leihani shares her story of growing up surfing with her dad, competing from a young age, and balancing school, training, and travel. S...

Episode sponsored by Official Beer Co. Produced by Podfire. In this episode of Tappa’s Green Room, Terry “Tappa” Teece welcomes Matt Barber - educator, performance coach, and advocate for mental, physical and ocean-connected well-being. Matt opens up about his journey from decades in education to pioneering innovative youth programs and becoming a key member of HUPO, where he blends surf, breath-w...

Episode sponsored by Official Beer Co. Produced by Podfire. In Part 2 of his conversation with Terry “Tappa” Teece, legendary shaper and artist Richard Harvey returns to Tappa’s Green Room to dive deeper into the world of creativity, craftsmanship, and expression. Moving beyond surfboards, Richard opens up about his evolution as an artist - from painting and woodcarving to the unique pieces that h...

This episode is brought to you by Official Beer Co. Produced by Podfire. In this episode of Tappa’s Green Room , Tappa sits down with legendary Gold Coast shaper and artist Richard Harvey , who has spent more than 50 years handcrafting surfboards for state champions, Australian champions, and international surfers. Richard reflects on growing up in the era of wooden boards, discovering shaping as...

Episode brought to you by Official Beer Co. and produced by Podfire. In this episode Tappa sits down with Jean-Marie Lartigau , a pioneering French surfer, artist, and six-time national champion whose life has taken him from the waves of the Basque Coast in the 1960s to a deeply rooted home on the Gold Coast. Jean-Marie shares stories of the early European surf scene, discovering surfing through f...

In this episode of Tappa’s Green Room , Terry “Tappa” Teece sits down with Phil Clayton — Ironman legend, coach, and one of the most respected voices in surf lifesaving. From his early days charging the Gold Coast surf to competing on the world stage, Phil shares the highs, lows, and lessons from a life spent in the ocean. He opens up about the evolution of surf lifesaving, mentoring the next gene...

In this episode of Tappa’s Green Room , Terry “Tappa” Teece sits down with Kate Wilcomes — surfer, coach, and all-round force of nature who’s spent her life chasing waves, adventure, and purpose. Kate shares her story from growing up by the ocean to competing, coaching, and building a life centred around movement and mindset. She opens up about resilience, reinvention, and helping others unlock th...

In this inspiring episode, Tappa sits down with Guy Ormerod — a Gold Coast surf legend whose story stretches from his early days at Palm Beach to his decades of influence in and out of the water. Guy shares his journey from competing with greats like Rabbit Bartholomew and Jerry Lopez to becoming one of Billabong’s first sponsored surfers. Beyond the surf, Guy opens up about his faith, family, yea...

In this episode of Tappa’s Green Room , host Terry “Tappa” Teece sits down with the one-and-only Tony Spanos — a Sydney icon whose life journey weaves through surf culture, street art, social activism and community building. Tony shares how his early passion for surfing and coastal life dovetailed with his commitment to urban youth, Indigenous communities, and environmental causes. From founding t...

In this episode of Tappa’s Green Room , Terry “Tappa” Teece is joined by legendary surf and snow photographer Tony “Harro” Harrington , who has spent the past four decades chasing the planet’s most extreme moments. From his early days on the Central Coast with a $5 surfboard to becoming one of the only photographers to work at the highest levels in both surf and snow, Harro shares the stories behi...

Brought to you by Official Beer Co. & produced by Podfire. In this episode of Tappa’s Green Room , host Terry “Tappa” Teece sits down with renowned surfboard shaper and innovator Nev Hyman . From shaping his first boards in his dad’s garage in Perth to becoming an internationally respected craftsman, Nev shares stories of chasing waves, meeting legends, and shaping boards for world champions....

Tappa sits down with Jay Phillips — Snapper Rocks legend, champion surfer, and the club’s longest-serving president. Jay shares stories from his dreamy Fingal childhood, his rise through the surf comp ranks, and the moment that shaped his life after losing his father. From surfing alongside Metallica to shaping the next generation of wave riders, Jay reflects on the power of community, the evoluti...

In this heartfelt and inspiring episode, Tappa sits down with true Gold Coast royalty, Warren Young — lifeguard, lifesaver, longboarder, poet, and all-round top bloke. With over 47 years of service, Warren shares how he helped transform the Gold Coast into a world leader in beach safety, from pioneering lifeguard towers to standardising rescue training and bringing in jet skis. He opens up about h...

Tappa sits down with iconic surf cameraman and all-around legend John ‘Gordo’ Gordon. From his roots in a family steeped in journalism to capturing the chaos and beauty of the world’s best waves, Gordo has seen it all — often from behind the lens and sometimes from the frontlines of danger. With trademark humour and heart, Gordo opens up about his wildest moments on the World Surfing Tour, brushes...

Tappa sits down with Aussie surfer, commentator, and all-around adventurer Lillian “Lily” Young. From her early days catching waves in Australia to lifeguarding the rugged shores of England, Lily’s journey is anything but ordinary. She opens up about her time at the iconic Cooey School, the leap to living abroad, and her solo surf missions through Cornwall, El Salvador, Mexico, and Costa Rica. Lil...

Tappa sits down with surfing icon and legendary shaper Murray Bourton—founder of the iconic Pipe Dream Surfboards. From the beaches of South Australia to the breaks of Bali, Murray reflects on a life carved by waves, wild adventures, and bold choices. They talk early Gold Coast surf culture, getting drafted for Vietnam, run-ins with the law, and how a stint in jail changed his trajectory. Murray o...

Tappa sits down with surfing legend Andrew “Andy Mac” McKinnon. From his first wave at Mermaid Beach to mixing it with the best on the world stage, Andy takes us on a wild ride through the golden era of Aussie surfing. Hear about the board evolution arms race, life-changing sessions in Hawaii, behind-the-scenes chaos at the 1972 World Championships, and his long-time rivalry (and friendship) with...

Tappa sits down with Ziggy Aloha Mackenzie — the under-16 ISA World Champion — to chat about her rise through the ranks of junior surfing and the wild ride that’s gotten her there.  From growing up in Bali and overcoming a fear of the ocean, to navigating international comps and heavy waves in El Salvador, Ziggy opens up about the moments that shaped her into the athlete she is today. They dive in...