The Mark Schulein Passion Project

Today’s guest is one of the most influential figures in the history of California ocean sports and public safety. Karl ‘Buddy’ Bohn spent four decades as a Los Angeles County Lifeguard, rising through the ranks from tower guard to Section Chief while helping shape one of the most respected ocean rescue organizations in the world. But Buddy’s legacy extends far beyond lifeguarding. In 1982, alongsi...

For more than two decades, Laylan Connelly has been one of the most respected voices covering the people, events, and culture of Southern California’s coastline. As an award-winning journalist for the Orange County Register, she has documented everything from world-class surfing and ocean racing to lifeguard championships, environmental issues, and the everyday stories that define life by the sea...

Chris Mauro is a surfer, journalist, editor, storyteller, and one of surfing’s most respected voices. I’ve known of Chris for nearly 40 years because he’s always seemed to be right in the middle of surfing’s story; documenting it, sharing it, and helping preserve it for future generations. Raised in South Laguna Beach, Chris grew up as a beach kid. Once he found surfing, he immersed himself in it...

Dr. Milica McDowell wants you to move and move well.  Dr. Milica is a Doctor of Physical Therapy, entrepreneur, educator, and USA Today national bestselling author who has spent more than two decades helping people move better, feel better, and live healthier lives. Dr. McDowell specializes in helping people build strength, mobility, resilience, and longevity and has worked with everyone from indi...

Wing Lam is the co-founder and creative force behind  Wahoo’s Fish Taco; the iconic Southern California brand that blends surf culture, street food, and entrepreneurial hustle into one of the country’s most recognizable fast-casual success stories. What started from a long family history of restauranteurs; he and two of his brothers created Wahoo’s, a cool local taco shop, with the desire to be a...

Candice Appleby is a world champion paddler, accomplished surfer, and deeply committed coach whose life has been shaped by the ocean. With roots in Southern California’s surf mecca, she developed into the most dominant force in women’s stand up paddling, and has spent decades in this space, earning global recognition while continuing to evolve as both an athlete, waterwoman and coach. Her success...

Big Tony. For thirty years, that’s all I had known him as and I’m guessing I’m not alone. Like “The Rock”, Sting, or Bono, he doesn’t need more than one name. “Big Tony” is enough. It carries weight. It means something; and it fits. But behind the name is the man: Tony “Big Tony” Alvarez. And while a lot of people know the name, far fewer know the full story. The truth is, his path is deeper, broa...

If you have been involved in surf, skate or snow sports in the last three decades; you’ve been impacted by Thom McElroy.   Thom stands as one of the most influential creative minds to emerge from modern surf culture. Along with Volcom founder Richard Woolcot and co-founder Tucker Hall, he helped redefine what a surf brand could be. And helped shoot it to the moon.   With a background in graphic de...

Joe Nance & KrakenX.ai. At only 19 years old, Joe Nance is bringing artificial intelligence to the lifeguard services with the goal of making the ocean safer by giving lifeguards an additional, powerful, tool to add to their arsenal. Joe started lifeguarding at 16 and he is passionate about it and yet… he, like many tech creators before him, wondered “what if?” While he originally created KrakenX....

Scott Muir is one of the most inspirational and positive people that I’ve been honored to meet. His story is both incredible and so so scary; and through it all he is one of the most upbeat, engaging, and happy people I've met. I got way more out of this interview than Scott has any idea. He thoroughly impacted me and I have very much taken his messages to heart. Scott is a proud husband and paren...

Leanne Stanley is a highly respected, Canadian outrigger canoe paddler, coach, and ocean athlete whose impact spans decades in the paddling community. Known for her grit, discipline, and deep love for the water, Leanne has competed at the highest levels of racing, across numerous paddle craft, earning a reputation as both a fierce competitor and someone that can push through significant obstacles....

Nathan Visagie is on a mission to ride the biggest waves in the world; and he gave himself a pretty short window of time to get there… while documenting it all and sharing his path with the world. Nathan has created a large following of his quest with a super cool, vibrant and honest depiction of the road to doing something that 99.9% of humanity will never experience. Me included. Nathan is captu...

Chuck Patterson may not be a household name but if you’re into extreme sports that happen in massive surf, big mountains, or howling wind, there’s a very good chance you know exactly who he is. And if you don’t know him… you want to. Chuck is also known for his huge smile and infectious positivity. He possesses the unmistakable energy of someone who’s not only incredibly accomplished, but genuinel...

Lauren Kleiman is a dedicated public servant and community leader serving the residents of Newport Beach, CA in numerous community and civic roles. She is a member of the City Council and for 2026 she is serving as Mayor. No small feats. This is especially impressive considering that Lauren grew up on Long Island, New York and had no aspirations for “politics.” But she found herself wanting to be...

Branch Lotspeich is co-founder and Director of the Rescue Tube Foundation, a non-profit based on Kauai, Hawaii, whose mission is to save lives. Is there a more important purpose for an organization? I don’t think so. If you’ve spent time on the Hawaiian islands, there is a good chance that you’ve seen, or been in close proximity to a Rescue Tube. Hopefully you’ve not needed to use one or be saved...

James Merrill is the Founder, CEO and the force behind Stoked Plastics and Opolis Optics; and he is an unapologetic optimist about our ability to fix the worldwide plastics problem. James has built these companies that don’t just talk about sustainability… they literally turn plastic waste into high-performance products. From discarded plastic water bottles to premium materials, his work sits at t...

Cyril Derreumaux is truly one of a kind. There are only a handful of people in the history of the world that have done the things that he has.  Cyril has paddled his kayak (named Valentine) across both the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, solo and unsupported.  He is the ONLY person in history to paddle both oceans in this way. And for the record, the Pacific took him 91 days and the Atlantic, 71.  Ca...

Kaleigh Gilchrist is as cool and rad and impressive as they come. It’s not just that she is a three time Olympian, or that she has two Olympic water polo gold medals (in her sock drawer) or the NCAA championship ring, or the high school CIF win; or the multitude of other championship wins on the water polo world stage. What if I told you that she’s also a professional surfer with a ton more elite...

Jay Larson and Lyndon Cabellon; aka L8Night with Choccy. These guys are surf industry pros going back decades, Huntington Beach icons, ripping surfers, funny guys and hosts of the wildly popular L8Night with Choccy podcast. With diverse backgrounds, these guys connected early in HB and have been friends ever since. Jay was a professional surfer on the world stage and part of the “Momentum Generati...

If you find yourself in harm’s way or in high risk situations in the ocean (or anywhere for that matter) you want Hoover and his friends running point on your safety. Hoover is a respected Water Safety and Risk Management Specialist, master instructor and all around waterman. His list of certifications and expertise related to water safety and first aid is off the charts. His experience in big wav...

Joe Stapleton is the busiest person I know. At the time of this interview, Joe serves as the Mayor of Newport Beach, California and has passionately served this community for two decades. His view of public service is on point; and the genesis of it comes from an experience that changed his view of the world and of his own legacy. Since that time, Joe has held more positions in his city than I can...

Gaby Laurent’s story starts the way every story should start; with an awesome, loving and supportive family and a wonderful upbringing. She grew up with love and the push, the drive and the support to have a great life. And when she went off to college she met the love of her life on the first day. Graduation, graduate school, marriage, career, and then pregnancy… everything that she wanted. Then...

Whitney Erickson is a non-profit leader as Executive Director of Open Water; an organization dedicated to supporting members of our military and first responder communities. She is also a mermaid, a pirate, an educator, and a badass. She is also one of the coolest and most authentic people I know. And I've known Whitney for a very long time. She grew up in the waterman world of Orange County. Outr...

Kalani Vierra is what I consider modern “Hawaiian Royalty.” He looks and acts the part everyday and in every way. The list of what he does and how he does it is incredible. He is a renowned waterman in his personal and professional worlds and the lines between the two are very much blurred; this is who he is. And he is as cool, humble, dedicated, determined, authentic and as compelling a leader as...