The Surfrider Podcast

The January 2025 Los Angeles wildfires didn't just devastate communities — they unleashed a cascade of toxic contamination into Southern California's coastal waters. When flames consumed over 16,000 structures in the Palisades and Eaton fires, they created a new environmental crisis: ash, heavy metals, PFAS chemicals, and hazardous debris washing directly into the Pacific Ocean. In this episode, we are joined by Eugenia Emacora, Surfrider’s LA Chapter Manager, and Mara Dias, Senior Manager of Surfrider’s Water Quality Initiative, to dive deep into Surfrider’s critical efforts to protect public health and the marine environment by conducting frontlines post-fire water quality testing and keeping the local community informed.  We examine what contaminants are actually in the water, what the data reveals about safety for swimmers, surfers, and marine life, and how Surfrider is advocating for transparency and environmental protections during the complex federal cleanup process. This episode explores how communities can build coastal resilience through nature-based solutions. Whether you're a concerned beachgoer, environmental advocate, or coastal community member, this episode provides essential information about navigating water safety in the aftermath of urban wildfires — and how Surfrider’s network of local activists is fighting to protect the coasts we all love. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When half of America's beaches could vanish by 2100, what's the solution? Join Surfrider’s Climate Action Program Manager Carla Avila-Martinez and Coasts & Climate Initiative Sr. Manager Emma Haydocy as they reveal how Surfrider's network is restoring America’s coastlines using nature-based solutions like planting mangrove forests, removing invasive plant species , and restoring coastal dunes. This episode also features Paul Jenkin, the dedicated campaign leader who spent decades fighting to save Ventura’s iconic Surfers' Point — and won. Listen now to discover why working with nature beats fighting against it, how Surfrider’s grassroots activists are leading coastal climate adaptation projects nationwide, and what your community can do to protect local beaches from rising seas and extreme weather. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we explore Surfrider’s decades-long campaign against offshore drilling and the devastating environmental costs of our dependence on fossil fuels with Surfrider CEO Dr. Chad Nelsen and Surfrider’s Ocean Protection Manager, Pete Stauffer. We also hear from Violet Sage Walker, the Chairwoman of the Northern Chumash Tribal Council — nominators of the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary — and learn about her multigenerational connection to the California coast, and her Tribe’s battle to protect our ocean and beaches from the harms of offshore drilling, dating back to a 1969 oil spill in Santa Barbara. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Over 40 years ago, a group of surfers from Malibu, California, were concerned about escalating coastal development at their favorite surf spot, and they took action. In this episode, we hear from Surfrider’s co-founder Glenn Hening, world champion surfer and Surfrider’s first ambassador Shaun Tomson, and current CEO Dr. Chad Nelsen to explore the motivation behind and the evolution of Surfrider’s environmental mission to become the world’s most impactful grassroots coastal and ocean conservation organization. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Montauk, known locally as “The End,” is a historic fishing village at the eastern tip of Long Island that boasts some of the finest surf beaches on the East Coast — many now threatened by serious water quality and beach erosion issues. In today's episode, we speak with Taylor and Liev Schreiber, exploring their special connection to the town, the ocean, and their long-standing support of Surfrider's coastal conservation mission. We'll also spend time with Surfrider's Water Quality Initiative Senior Manager and Montauk local Mara Dias alongside Surfrider CEO Dr. Chad Nelsen to learn more about the environmental challenges facing Montauk’s coastal community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Tijuana River is poisoning San Diego residents. Every day, millions of gallons of untreated sewage, toxic chemicals, and trash are crossing the international border, and the problem is spreading to an increasingly greater area of San Diego County. In today’s show, we talk to Surfrider's Clean Border Water Now Program Manager Sarah Davidson, Doctor Kimberly Dickson, who is treating local residents for medical conditions related to the pollution, and Imperial Beach Mayor Paloma Aguirre, to learn why Surfrider is calling on the Trump administration to declare a national emergency which is essential to containing and correcting what is rapidly becoming the biggest public health crisis in America. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices