Surf Stories

In this episode of Surf Stories , John Brooks and Kevin Miller talk with professional big-wave surfer Torrey Meister about his path from childhood at Banyans on Hawaii's Big Island, shaped early by Shane Dorian's grom contests, through a decade chasing the Qualifying Series in California. Torrey shares his breakthrough 2013 Cold Water Classic win, his long-standing O'Neill partnership, and the Jaws session during the 2015–16 El Niño swell that turned him into a dedicated big-wave rider. He also opens up on injuries, resilience, and gratitude for a life built around the ocean. Florida Surf Film Festival was the gracious host of the world premiere of Tucker Wooding and Torrey's new film, Unmakeable .

Nate Zoller, a professional surfer, photographer, and writer based in Southern California, has spent over a decade with Roark as a Brand Ambassador and storyteller. He produces branded content and narrative campaigns from surf and adventure trips around the globe — from Iceland and Japan to the Falkland Islands and Mexico — while contributing to acclaimed Roark films like "The Forgotten Archipelago" and "Dear Mexico." On this episode, hosts John Brooks and Kevin Miller sit down with Zoller to talk about his Laguna Beach roots and what it takes to turn a life of travel into compelling marketing.

Aaron "Gorkin" Cormican, New Smyrna Beach's own aerial pioneer and two-time Quiksilver King of the Peak champion, joins John Brooks and Kevin Miller for this homegrown NSB chat. Known equally for his high-flying competitive career and for shaping boards under his own Gorkin Surfboards label, Cormican has spent decades as one of the Inlet's most recognizable and respected talents. In this conversation, he digs into how he found surfing and competition, kill or be killed attitude, his journey from competitor to shaper, and the local characters and culture that influenced his journey - a true homegrown story, straight from the source. Now, Aaron lives and makes surfboards in Nicaragua.

Jeff Easson is a retired U.S. Navy Command Master Chief with 30 years of service — an achievement earned by less than 1% of enlisted sailors. Born in Windsor, Ontario, Canada, he moved to Ormond Beach, Florida at age 11, where he traded hockey for surfing and competed in the ESA and SSA through high school. After a run-in with the law led him to enlist, he built a career in Navy finance and HR, rising to senior enlisted leadership. He's now retired back home in Daytona. Enjoy this chat with John Brooks and Kevin Miller.

Eric Geiselman @ericgeiselman , the third Geiselman to join us after Father Greg and Brother Evan, brings a New Smyrna Beach pedigree built on a run of competitive surfing and a 2007 Surfer Poll Award for Most Radical Maneuver. Known as "Lark," he's built a reputation as one of freesurfing's most versatile talents—airs, barrels, and progressive rail work across every wave type. A musician and multi-sport athlete off the water, Eric has more recently become a standout foiler, further expanding the family's surf legacy. Enjoy this chat with John and Kevin.

Morgan Maassen grew up in Santa Barbara chasing waves at Rincon, but it was an injury that got him behind a camera instead of on a board — and the rest is history. He's since become one of surf's most recognizable visual storytellers, known for that dreamy, slow-shutter style that's landed his work in National Geographic , The New York Times , and Surfer Magazine , plus campaigns for Apple, Red Bull, and Patagonia. Morgan is a veteran of Florida Surf Film Festival, having conducted a photography workshop in 2015 and has won multiple awards for his short films around the world. Enjoy.

Luca Merli is a Milan-based filmmaker, photographer, and surf culture champion who has spent more than two decades documenting the soul of Italian surfing. A Goldsmiths College graduate, he founded Block10 and the Onde Nostre collective, producing five award-winning feature films — including Peninsula and Nausicaa — distributed globally on Netflix and major platforms. In 2016, he co-founded the Skate & Surf Film Festival (SSFF) in Milan, now in its tenth edition and recognized as Italy's premier celebration of surf and skate cinema. Enjoy our chat with Luca.

Born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii, Derek Hoffmann @derekhoffmann808 fell in love with the ocean and still photography at his home break, Sandy Beach, before moving to the North Shore and picking up a movie camera. His in-water 16mm work on the 1989 theatrical release Rolling Thunder set the course for a life behind the lens. He went on to travel the world filming Rip Curl's legendary Search program alongside director Sonny Miller, contributing to iconic films like Searching for Tom Curren . Today, Derek is the founder of naluTV and Nalu Film Foundation , and has made it his mission to preserve and digitize surf cinema's most treasured archives — ensuring the history of the sport is never lost to time.

Cameron Kirkconnell @camkirkconnell sheds skin to scales when the moon is full or as soon as his toe touches saltwater. He holds his breath for three-times longer than a normal joe, and finds the biggest, and of course, tastiest of fish. He began his career as a merchant marine, achieving the rank of Unlimited Tonnage Captain, and with six month breaks between ships, he surfed, dove, studied, and fine-tuned his skills into the ultimate guide service for high-end spearfishing charters. Keeping dry now means equipping multi-million dollar yachts with special tools, helipads, runabouts... Finding buyers and sellers all over the globe. Based out of south Florida, Cameron still gets in the water plenty while raising little water people. Enjoy these stories from the deep with John Brooks and Kevin Miller.

Pat O'Connell didn't touch saltwater until he was twelve and somehow became one of surfing's most beloved figures. A natural competitor, he represented the U.S. at the 1990 World Amateur Championships before landing a starring role in Bruce Brown's Endless Summer II — a film that introduced surfing's joy to a whole new generation. He went on to compete on the ASP World Tour for over a decade, peaking at 11th in the world, before transitioning into the surf industry with Hurley, the WSL, and Florence Marine X. John Brooks and Kevin Miller lock Pat in the hot seat for some quality stories. Enjoy.

Born and raised in Punta Hermosa, Peru, José Plaza grew up steeped in surf culture — his father Miguel was a pioneer wave rider in Peru and Hawaii during the 1960s, befriending legends like Eddie Aikau and Greg Noll. That legacy pushed José into the water early and eventually behind the camera. After a chance encounter with filmmaker Wes Brown deep in the Peruvian jungle, José transitioned into filmmaking, starting with surf films featuring top Peruvian athletes. Today, he documents the raw beauty of Peruvian surfing, blending insider knowledge with a filmmaker's eye. And he share some incredible stories with Kevin Miller and John Brooks. Enjoy.

Miguel Tudela is one of Peru's top professional surfers, known for his powerful style and consistency on the world stage. A standout in international competitions, he represented Peru in Olympic surfing, showcasing the country's deep surf heritage. Raised on Lima's coastline, Tudela has built a career marked by discipline, resilience, and pride in his roots. He continues to inspire the next generation while competing globally and elevating Peru's presence in the sport. Enjoy this chat with John Brooks and Kevin Miller. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Otto Flores is a Puerto Rican surfer, ocean safety advocate, and environmental activist whose life has been shaped by the OCEAN. After beginning his career as a professional surfer, Flores traveled the world chasing waves and appearing on the covers of major surf publications. One such cover has a story to it, which he shared with us today. Over time, his focus expanded beyond performance to protecting the ocean and the communities that depend on it. He co-founded the nonprofit Granito de Arena, which used surfing to educate youth about ocean conservation and plastic pollution. Today, Flores continues to blend surf culture, environmental activism, and ocean safety training, using his platform to inspire stewardship of coastlines and communities worldwide. Enjoy! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

John Moore @bonfirebeachkids is a designer and co-founder of the sustainable apparel brand Outerknown , launched in 2015 with surfing legend Kelly Slater. A seasoned fashion industry veteran, he brings decades of design and leadership experience to the brand, with a focus on timeless style, ethical manufacturing, and environmental responsibility . Under his creative direction, Outerknown has pushed sustainable materials and supply-chain transparency to the forefront of modern menswear and womenswear. Moore's commitment to people and planet drives the company's mission to make clothes that look great, last longer, and tread lightly on the earth. As the former college roommate of our host, "Juan Mas" has some insight for us on our very own Johnny Brooks. Enjoy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Julian Azulay is an Argentine filmmaker, surfer, and environmental advocate best known as co-founder of Gauchos del Mar @gauchosdelmar. Alongside his brother Joaquín, he has traveled the world by van and sailboat, documenting remote coastlines, surf cultures, and conservation stories. Their independent documentaries blend adventure, social impact, and a deep respect for nature. Julian's work highlights marine protection, community resilience, and the connection between people and the ocean. Julian joined us for the East Coast Premiere of Antarctica - Domain One , narrated by Kelly Slater. Enjoy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We are honored to have longtime Florida surfer and shaper, Charley Baldwin @ charleybrealtor , on the podcast, and as an added bonus, his daughter, Marcie, chair of the Smyrna Safari Club. Charley managed to find success in competition through grit and love for surfing. CB has humble beginnings, hosting small surf contests on top of his beach wagon, selling hot dogs, competing and winning, and becoming one of the largest surfboard builders and retailers on the East Coast. With these stories, we capture the true essence of what it is to be a surfer, family man, entrepreneur, and positively, phenomenal human being. Enjoy this chat with Hall of Famer for surf and board building, Charley "CB" Baldwin. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Other than not sharing the derivation of the nickname, "Wingnut" @thewingnut is an open book with a candor and flow meant only for us folks in-the-know. Sure, Robert Weaver, star of Endless Summer 2 , is a part of the adult-learner apparatus, but he does it in the middle of nowhere with not a lot of interference at your home break. Does he deserve this dream job? We think, yes. But it doesn't matter. He made it happen through hustle, a rare combination of humor, enviable kindness, and what appears to be a healthy dose of caffeine. To think he gave us an hour of his time… What a gift. You can't escape a smile after hitting play. Now, sit back and pretend you're in the first cabin of Cathay Pacific Airlines with clear, blue spokes reeling below while you get acquainted with the one and only, Wingnut Weaver. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Glen Casey @glen_casey is an Australian surfer best known for his deep roots in surf culture and his raw, no-nonsense approach to riding waves. Growing up around Australia's powerful south coast, Casey earned respect for his commitment to heavy water, classic boards, and the kind of surfing driven more by feel than flash, cutting his teeth with uncrowded Wayne Lynch sessions. He represents a generation that values authenticity, craftsmanship, and connection to place. Whether in the water or shaping culture around it, Glen Casey embodies the spirit of Australian surfing—independent, soulful, and grounded in respect for the ocean. Enjoy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ryan Lovelace, known for blending timeless craftsmanship with progressive design, is based in California and Hawaii. His feature film, Almost Cut My Hair , was officially selected for the 2013 Florida Surf Film Festival and is available on YouTube. Lovelace has built a devoted following for boards that emphasize flow, trim, and feel, drawing inspiration from classic displacement hulls and alternative surfcraft. His work is defined by clean lines, subtle curves, and an intuitive understanding of how boards interact with water. Respected by surfers across generations, he approaches shaping as both art and engineering, creating functional objects meant to enhance the surfing experience. Enjoy this chat with a true master of his craft. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Allen Sarlo , @allen_sarlo known as the "Wave Killer," is a legendary surfer whose powerful, aggressive style helped define the early days of Venice Beach's Dogtown scene. A pioneering figure in both surfing and skateboarding, Sarlo brought raw energy and innovation to waves around the world. His fearless approach, competitive drive, and charismatic personality cemented his status as an icon of the sport. From heavy Hawaiian surf to local California breaks, Sarlo's legacy continues to inspire generations of surfers who push the boundaries of power surfing today. We screened his super 8 time-capsule last year with a great crowd and Allen in attendance, enjoying his humor and stories. Enjoy some more great threads here! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices