The Christian Surfers Podcast

In this powerful and deeply honest episode of the Christian Surfers Podcast, Cyle Meyers sits down with legendary Hawaiian surfboard shaper Eric Arakawa — the man behind boards ridden by some of surfing’s greatest names, including Michael Ho and multiple world champions. But beyond shaping surfboards, Eric shares the deeper story of how God shaped his life. Growing up in Hawaii, Eric fell in love...

In this powerful episode of the Christian Surfers Podcast, host Mark Sawyer-Chu sits down with former pro surfer & co-owner of Island Water Sports surf shop, Cheyne Cottrell, for an honest conversation about family legacy, surf culture, ministry, and a life shaped across continents by faith. Cheyne shares his journey growing up in Florida around Island Water Sports, a surf shop founded by his...

In this powerful and deeply honest episode of the Christian Surfers Talk Story Podcast, host Mark Sawyer-Chu sits down with Reed Burr - missionary kid, surfer, filmmaker, and full-time staff with Christian Surfers - to unpack a story that moves from faith, to rebellion, and back again through radical encounters with God. Reed grew up in a global missionary family, living across Africa and the Unit...

In this inspiring and faith-filled episode of Christian Surfers Talk Story, host Mark Story Chu sits down with Pastor John Cobian, founder of Cobian Footwear, to talk about surfing, business, ministry, and what it means to boldly follow Jesus in the surf industry. John shares the incredible story behind the launch of Cobian in 1995, from stepping out in faith after losing both his job and relation...

In this inspiring episode of the Christian Surfers Talk Story Podcast, host Mark Sawyer-Chu chats with Kirk, the Asia Pacific Area Director for Christian Surfers, to discuss his transformative journey from local church ministry to leading a thriving international organization. Kirk shares his personal faith story, a powerful spiritual encounter that deepened his relationship with Jesus, and the vi...

In this episode of the Christian Surfers Talk Story, host Mark Sawyer-Chu sits down with longtime friend and surf missionary Chris Chon at the 2025 Christian Surfers International Gathering in Bali last year.  Chris shares his powerful testimony - from growing up in Southern California with a troubled family background to finding Jesus in Alaska of all places, and eventually pioneering Christian S...

In this inspiring episode, host Mark Sawyer-Chu sits down with professional surfer Jessie Van Niekerk as she opens up about the realities of life on the Challenger Series, the mental and emotional toll of elite competition, and how she stays grounded in faith through it all. Jessie gives us a behind-the-scenes look at navigating the surf world’s pressures, the importance of surrounding yourself wi...

This week on the Christian Surfers Podcast, your host, Mark Sawyer-Chu, sits down with Hannah Leary from FCA Action Sports. Hannah serves as an Area Representative in the Carolinas, stepping into a role FCA had been praying to fill for over a decade. Her journey to this point is a powerful testament to God’s timing: though she grew up in the church, it wasn’t until a season of personal surrender -...

In this special episode of Christian Surfers Talk Story, Tim Foreman - bassist of Grammy-winning rock band Switchfoot - joins host Mark Sawyer-Chu for a powerful, personal conversation on faith, music, surfing, and identity. Tim opens up about his early walk with Jesus, growing up as a pastor’s kid, and how authentic faith shaped his life before fame. Recorded in his vintage gear-filled San Diego...

In this episode of the Christian Surfers Podcast, host Mark Sawyer-Chu welcomes follower of Jesus, former WCT surfer, and WSL commentator - Jesse Mendes. Broadcasting from Amigo Studio in Oceanside, CA, Jesse opens up about his journey from São Paulo to the global surf stage, and more importantly, from childhood faith to a lifelong relationship with Jesus.  From sharing waves with the world’s best...

The 23rd annual Tommy Tant Memorial Surf Classic (https://www.instagram.com/tommytant/) in Flagler Beach, FL just wrapped!   It’s easily one of the longest-running, community surf contests in Florida with a greater purpose.  In this raw and real episode, host Mark Sawyer-Chu sits down with former pro surfer, speaker, and brother in Christ, Will Tant, at his new home in Flagler Beach. Together, the...

In this episode, Mark Sawyer-Chu interviews Jacob Galura, Southeast Regional Coordinator for Christian Surfers USA, about the growth of surf ministry across Florida and beyond. From leading international mission trips for CSUS, to launching new chapters in legacy surf tows like Cocoa Beach, Jacob shares his heart for using surf culture to share the message of Jesus. Did you enjoy the episode? Plea...

In this inspiring episode of the Christian Surfers Podcast, host Mark Sawyer-Chu sits down with former pro surfer, fitness coach, and WSL Championship Tour Manager, Kayla Durden.  Recorded at Shoreline Church in San Clemente Kayla opens up about her journey of faith, life in professional surfing, and how her identity in Christ has grounded her through it all. From her appearance on ABC’s The Ultim...

In this deep and encouraging episode of Christian Surfers Podcast, host Mark Sawyer-Chu sits down with Dave Allee, founder of the iconic Almond Surfboards brand in Costa Mesa, California. What starts as a conversation about surfboards quickly turns into an inspiring story of faith, family, creativity, and community. Dave shares how growing up two blocks from the shop's current location shaped his...

Mark Sawyer-Chu sits down with pro surfer Alyssa Spencer to talk faith, surfing, and what it means to stay grounded in God while chasing waves around the world. Alyssa opens up about her journey of faith, from growing up in a faith-based home to finding a personal relationship with Jesus through youth group and real-life experiences. She shares how her favorite verse, 1 Corinthians 16:14 – “Let al...

In this episode, host Mark Sawyer-Chu, aka The Stoke Life, is joined by Raul Espinoza, a key leader in the global Christian Surfers familia. Recorded in a living room in Florida, this is a deep dive into God's incredible faithfulness. Raul shares his powerful testimony of discovering surfing and Christian Surfers in his 40s during a difficult season. Through the radical love of Christian Surfers P...

In this episode of the CS Podcast, Mark Sawyer-Chu sits down with Aaron Trevis, founder, former CEO, and current CTO of the leading wave pool company, Surf Lakes. Aaron shares his life-changing testimony, from growing up in a secular home to encountering God in an incredible way.  After a dramatic near-death experience in 1994, Aaron went from scepticism to faith, eventually joining the Gideons an...

Aloha, surf fam! Join us for an inspiring episode of the Christian Surfers Podcast with Noah Snyder; pro surfer turned artist, Outer Banks legend, and founder of Momentum Fitness & Jiu-Jitsu. From charging freezing East Coast barrels to rebuilding his business after devastating floods, Noah opens up about the highs and lows of his career, the unexpected discovery of his artistic gifts: https:/...

Today, we’re diving into the inspiring journey of Brett Barley - a pro surfer, filmmaker, and content creator whose life has been shaped by faith in Jesus and a deep love for storytelling. Brett’s story begins in the world of Christian Surfers, where a 12-year-old kid found both pizza, the Word of God, and eventually his wife - a combination that changed his life forever. From filming waves with a...

From the struggles of his family’s early days in Hawai’i to stepping into leadership after his father’s passing, Ron Artis’ journey is one of resilience and hard-earned wisdom. His upbringing, watching his parents persevere through hardship, shaped his outlook on life, music, and faith. Now, as an independent artist navigating the challenges of the streaming era, Ron has released his latest album,...

Join Christian Surfers’ podcast hosts Mark Sawyer-Chu as he sits down with legendary longboarder JJ Wessels in his creative San Juan Capistrano board and art shed! JJ talks about how Jesus transformed his broken upbringing, how he survived a crazy plane crash, the famous ‘Seedling’ era of surfing and surfboard design and so much more. "I’ve realized the Lord’s given me this passion for a reason—it...

This week on the CS Podcast, we sit down with Trevor Berge, a lifelong surfer, entrepreneur, and devoted follower of Jesus. From his early days as a young surfer in Huntington Beach to becoming the owner of Degree33 Surfboards and a passionate mentor in the Christian surfing community, Trevor’s journey is inspiring to say the least. After being introduced to Christian Surfers, Trevor experienced a...

In this special episode host Mark Sawyer-Chu welcomes Pastor Dennis Leon, a keynote speaker at the 2025 Bali International Gathering last year for Christian Surfers, to share his incredible journey of faith, ministry, and his deep involvement with Christian Surfers. From his first exposure to the organization at age 11 in Costa Rica, when he received surf gear and stickers from a visiting mission...

Welcome to our latest episode of the Christian Surfers podcast (and the first of 2025 with Mark Sawyer-Chu). This week Mark sits down with Mike Mulkey an inspiring author, surfer, and devoted believer. Mike’s connection to Christian Surfers began through David and Amy Nehrig, the U.S. National Directors, who introduced him to the Christian Surfers podcast. Mike’s book, Surfing in Heaven, delves in...

In this episode of the CS Podcast, we take a deep dive into the life and career of Benji Severson, a name synonymous with surfing and faith - especially in the surfing hotbed of San Clemente. Growing up in a commune in Mendocino, California, Benji was introduced to the ocean at a young age, surfing alongside his father and uncle. Benji’s uncle, John Severson, was the founder of Surfer Magazine. Th...