The Insiders' Podcast

Episode 145 - HUGE SPECIAL GUEST - We are joined by head shaper of XOCOCO. Avalon Starick This is an episode you CANT miss. We are joined by Avalon Starick, the genius behind xococo surfboards.  Having the chance to speak with Avalon was an honour. We talk about her early days in the surf industry, how she managed to forge out an opportunity to shape, who helped her and gave her a chance and then...

Episode 144 - Special Guest - The Reason You Know About Liquid Death Is This Guy. When Matt had the surprise chance to sit down and chat surfing and action sports industry with Oli Russel-Cowan, he had to jump at the opportunity. Oli is a titan in the Brand building, event hosting, marketing genius that has led global brands and products to heights that can't be second guessed.  In his time w...

Episode 143 - Lowers Stands Up! Was That The Event Of The Season So Far?  Who knew that the final 5 at Trestles wasn't just bad for the athletes but for the venue too? Having a longer event allowed Lowers to really show why EVERYONE loves that wave.  Listen in to us talking about where this leaves everyone in the race to Cloudbreak and the final five, along with our waves of the event, compet...

Episode 142 - Summer Surfs, Favourite Wetsuits, WSL Talk & More!  Classic episode! We talk about ourselves, our latest surf exploits, what wetsuits and boards we are riding and more!  Along with this, we chat about the upcoming WSL event at Trestles, making our predictions for wild card, dark horse picks as well as event favourites and why.  You can also catch why Darren is jealous of Cavemen,...

Episode 141 - Covering All Comps! Japan to West Australia - We Have It All.  It's been quite the last week or so in the world of rash vest wearing warriors, taking on competition.  From the WSL at Margaret River to Stab High in Japan, you got a flavour of two very different competitions.  Last year we had high expectations of the air comp that STAB put on and we felt it was a little lacking,...

Episode 140 - Europe Lost A Legend - Our Tribute To Timo.  Europe, and the world took a heavy hit when Timo Jarvinen sadly past away last week.  An icon, a trial blazer and an amazing human! Darren tells us some classic yarns and pays tribute to a great human, with his lost being felt across the planet.  Along side this, we do talk Margies, make up predicts and give our fantasy teams too!  Check i...

Episode 139 - What On Earth Happened At Burleigh!? Plus Free Surfing Updates!  Burleigh Heads just delivered a memorable event! Is there anything better then Wildcards going far in a draw and taking it to the favourites? Lessons to learn, give more wildcards to people like Julian, Steph and Morgan! Julian will take most of the credits and it dissevered but Morgan for the second event in a row went...

Episode 138 - FLASH EPISODE - Huge Changes Made By The WSL For 2026! After many meetings with the WSL they have finally listened to us, and taken huge steps to getting the world tour back to where it should be!  No cut, finishing at Pipe, bigger women's tour and more! If the waves play ball 2026 could be HUGE for the WSL.  Hear our thoughts on the changes, what more could be done and other in...

Episode 137 - THE GOAT JOINS US! We Talk Surfboards, Shaping, Style Plus Burleigh Predictions & Bells Wrap.  Yes, you read that right, the underground GOAT is on The Insider's, FINALLY! Mr Mark Phipps chats with Matt & Darren!  Do you want to her the story behind the Maid-Length that rivals the Hypto Krypto? The Magic One Bad Egg? Well listen in. Alongside this, we talk to Mark about...

Episode 136 - Style Masters New Edits - Torren Martyn, Jai Glindeman & More! We are back again!  Yes we talk about the results in El Salvador and how Darren predicted both men's and women's winners. Hows that Assorted Surf Picks?   But more importantly we talk about the latest new edit from Torren Martyn and Jai Glindeman.  Jai has dropped Free Flow, a STAB Edit Of The Year entry and...

Episode 135 - El Salvador Updates - LIVE! What has been going on?! Join us for a live party on the day before finals day at El Salvador!  The event has been stop and start but it's worth the wait as the waves are now pumping and the surfing is off the scale!  We go through our highlights and low lights for the event, our take on the interference rule, which impacted the Kanoa and Crosby heat....

Episode 134 - Stories Of Sumatra, Sunshine Coast and Snapper!  An episode that touches on stories from the recent trips we have been on.  Matt brings up his thoughts on a particular wave that you can find in Sumatra, while Darren brings us classic stories and new stories from his recent trip back home to the Sunshine Coast!  We do also talk about the WSL event at El Salvador and the early round ac...

Episode 133 - We Are Back B*tches!  We have been away, on well needed trips away to score waves, relax and come back better!  Now we are back we break down all the important surf world news that has gone down since our last episode.  We speak about the WSL at Portugal and our thoughts and opinions on the event. You can hear our picks and predictions for El Salvador and the event that is about the...

Episode 132 - Cyclone Alfred, Natural Selection, Board Talk & More!  Darren is in the heart of it, positioned in North Queensland he has been surfing his balls off with the Cyclone Already swell and is now bunkered down!  We chat boards, PU to EPS, the best mid lengths, why travelling with boards is worth it and more! Alongside this we breakdown the Natural Selection Surf event. We are fans, y...

Episode 131 - Core Surfer, Adventurer, National Champ & Your New Favourite Surfer - Special Guest.  We do not say this lightly when we say, Reed was one of the most interesting, fun, easy, down to earth and pure core people we have ever spoke too!  Just listen to the lengths that Reed goes to, when he is scoring waves. From some of the most unique dangers to surfers that you would have heard,...

Episode 130 - Caity Is The Queen & Italo Rules The Roost - Abu Dhabi Review Here it is, The Insiders' review of all that went down in the Desert. From stylish round house cutties to huge airs.  Darren and Matt break down what they loved and didn't like so much from the pool.  Al Cleland's 80's style antics, Rio's run, commentary pro's and con's and how the pe...

Episode 129 - What To Expect In The Wave Pool. Our Tips & Picks For This Event!  Are we excited for a wave pool event? Maybe... We await to see what goes down with bated breath.  We know the surfing will be of the highest level, we hope the WSL commentary doesn't mess it up and will there be another mass call out on judging?!  We take you through it all, who to pick, who not to pick, dark...

Episode 128 - La Nord + Pipe + The Best Wave Caught By An Englishman In Hawaii?!  A jam packed episode. The WSL is BACK with a bang in the end, Rip Curl's La Nord Challenge runs and Darren caught a BOMB and talking about catching life changing waves, we chat about the wave Lukas Skinner caught at Off The Wall on the same day 10's where dropping at Pipe.  Without giving away too much, we...

Episode 127 - Special Guest What Is Coming To The UK? Plus STAB's Very Best and Very WORST! Another special guest for you on this one!  This is a double up episode. In the first half you get to hear Darren and Matt's thoughts on Pipe, the surf world's latest and greatest releases and our very own surf stories!  Another edition to Kook or Core too - If you got an ex-pro's board...

Episode 126 - SPECIAL GUEST - One Of The Brightest South African Talents Joins Us!  Adin Masencamp has big dreams and can make big things happen. After seeing him lead the line during FCS's new "Riding The Sardine Run" edit we had to know more about this guy. During out chat we hear about Adin's dreams, his ideal heat at J Bay, his favourite wave in the world, what his plans fo...

Episode 125 - New For 2025 - We Have Sections, Guest's & More! It's Our Year! New Year, New Us? Nah, of course we are still the same but we do have some big things for this year.  With a new section which kicks off in this episode to huge guest's lined up and more!  In this episode we take Da' Hui Back Door Shoot Out, who is dropping YouTube edits that are must watches, we...

Episode 124 - The Insiders' 2024 Awards! The Only Ranking's Worth Being On!  Here it is, the rankings that matter.  The 2024 Insider Awards! We break down our best surfers, boards, wetsuits, content and more for 2024.  Do you agree? Have we missed anyone? Let us know. 2025 is going to be even bigger and better for us with HUGE things to come. Thanks for the support and love this year and...

Episode 123 - The Best Surf Film Maker On The Planet Join Us - SPECIAL GUEST The start of this podcast is all about what has been going on in the surf world. We wax lyrical about a new clip called “Riding The Sardine Run” which features @adinmasencamp , @micahmargieson , @sophiebell919 , @frankieoberholzer & a very small @harleyingleby showing. This is something different but EXCELLENT - We hi...

Episode 122 - The FOUNDER of Futures Fins - Special Guest - Vince Longo Do you want stories about Dave Rastovich, John John Florence, your favourite fins set ups and more!? If yes, listen to this episode.  We sit down with Vince Longo, the founder and owner of Futures Fins.  Hear about how the fins are designed, created, tested and more! Working with the best athletes in the worlds, tuning in fins...

Episode 121 - What Has Happened To The Vans Pipe Masters? We Discuss The Mess. The most iconic title for a surfer, a Pipe Master, it could be argued the Eddie has as much weight but every wants to be a Pipe Master... Until they don't.  Has the illustrious Pipe Masters crown become tarnished with changes to the judging, the format and now the invite list?  Come on! Who ever at Vans said, &quot...