PINCH MY SALT

Surfing legend Benji Weatherley joins Sterling Spencer and Cousin Ryan on the Pinch My Salt Podcast for one of our wildest episodes yet. From Kelly Slater and the Momentum Generation to Blink-182, Tom Curren, Shane Dorian, and the legendary lost surf movie Pickled, Benji tells unbelievable stories from the golden era of professional surfing.Known for his unforgettable appearances in Taylor Steele surf films, his friendship with Kelly Slater, inspiring Blink-182's hit song "Mutt," and his role in surf culture classics like Drive Thru, Benji Weatherley helped shape the personality of 1990s and early 2000s surfing.In this hilarious and completely unfiltered surf podcast, Benji talks about Kelly Slater stealing girlfriends, the rise of the Momentum Generation, the hidden story behind Billabong's Pickled surf movie, his wild surf trips with Tom Curren, and why the WSL dropped him from a Drive Thru project.We also dive into professional surfing, the surf industry, surf sponsorships, Jack Johnson, Donovan Frankenreiter, Kalani Robb, Joel Parkinson, and what life was really like behind the scenes during surfing's most iconic era.THIS WEEK ON PINCH MY SALT:🏄 Kelly Slater Stories — Benji talks about growing up around Kelly Slater, their friendship, rivalries, and the hilarious stories that never made it into the surf magazines.🎬 The Lost Surf Film PICKLED — What really happened to Benji Weatherley's legendary Billabong surf movie? Benji reveals the outrageous St. Barts trips, Tom Curren stories, the massive budget, and why the film nearly disappeared.🎸 Blink-182 and "Mutt" — Benji explains his famous nickname, his connection to Blink-182, and how he became part of punk rock and surf culture history.🌊 The Momentum Generation — Growing up alongside Kelly Slater, Shane Dorian, Rob Machado, and the surfers who transformed professional surfing forever.🍻 Life as a Sponsored Pro Surfer — From Billabong and Bud Light to endless East Coast surf tours, Benji reveals what being a professional freesurfer was really like.🚫 Benji vs. the WSL — Benji shares his side of the story about getting removed from a Drive Thru project after a controversial Zoom meeting.😂 The Funniest Guy in Surfing? — Benji goes completely off the rails, roasts the hosts, and proves why he's one of surfing's most unforgettable personalities.If you grew up watching Taylor Steele movies, following the Momentum Generation, listening to Blink-182, reading SURFER Magazine, or watching Drive Thru, this episode is for you.Pinch My Salt is a comedy surf podcast hosted by professional surfer Sterling Spencer and Cousin Ryan. We talk surfing, surf culture, professional surfers, surf industry drama, nostalgia, music, and everything ridiculous about life.SUBSCRIBE for new episodes, legendary surfing guests, behind-the-scenes surf stories, and completely unnecessary conversations.Drop a comment: What's your favorite Benji Weatherley moment, and have you ever seen the lost surf movie Pickled?#BenjiWeatherley #KellySlater #PinchMySalt #Surfing #SurfPodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dane Reynolds is on the hot seat as Sterling Spencer and Cousin Ryan break down Dane Reynolds, Kelly Slater, Jack Johnson, the modern surf industry, WSL surf culture, pro surfing, surf history, Shakas, sandals, flip-flops, and what happened to the culture of surfing. Is Dane Reynolds responsible for changing what was “cool” in surfing? Did the surf industry abandon its Hawaiian roots? And is Kelly Slater officially surfing like Kelly Slater again? This episode of the Pinch My Salt surf podcast dives deep into surf culture, professional surfing, surf industry trends, Kelly Slater surfing at Lowers, Dane Reynolds still shredding, Rob Machado, Reef, Hawaiian surf culture, modern surf brands, Gen Z surfers, women’s surfing, Erin Brooks, Gabriela Bryan, surfing style, surf progression, WSL competition, Lower Trestles, river surfing, surf etiquette, surf wipeouts, and the difference between old-school surfing and today’s surf scene. Sterling and Ryan also get into Jack Johnson, the “100th Monkey” theory, the origins of skateboarding and surf-skate culture, Jack Johnson’s dad possibly building one of the earliest skateboards, Cousin Ryan’s trip to Ireland, surfing Lahinch, Irish surf culture, giant waves near the Cliffs of Moher, turning 40, surf travel, stem cell treatment, brain injury recovery, spirituality, modern gurus, social media, Tim Tebow and the Life Surge controversy, and plenty of completely unnecessary Pinch My Salt observations along the way. The big question: Did surfing lose part of its identity when surfers stopped wanting to look like surfers? Sterling tells the story of a time when Dane Reynolds was one of the biggest cultural influences in surfing—and how Dane’s dislike of Shakas, sandals and traditional surfer style may have helped push an entire generation toward a different image. That leads to a bigger conversation about Rob Machado, Reef, California surf culture, Hawaiian surf culture, surf fashion, professional surfers starting brands, and why the surf industry may have lost touch with the people who simply love surfing. PLUS: 🏄 Kelly Slater surfing Lowers and looking locked in again 🤙 Dane Reynolds vs. the Shaka 🩴 The death—and return—of sandals and surf culture 🌊 Why old-school surf culture felt different 🔥 The progression of women’s professional surfing 🏄‍♀️ Erin Brooks and the new generation of female surfers 🎸 Jack Johnson and the 100th Monkey theory 🛹 Who actually invented the skateboard? If you grew up watching Kelly Slater, Dane Reynolds, Rob Machado, Shane Dorian, Laird Hamilton, Jack Johnson, Gabriel Medina, Griffin Colapinto or the golden era of surf videos and surf magazines—or you follow the WSL, professional surfing, surf podcasts, surf news and modern surf culture—this episode is for you. Drop a comment: Are sandals and Shakas essential to surf culture—or is Dane Reynolds right? SUBSCRIBE to Pinch My Salt for weekly surf stories, surf news, surfing commentary, surf industry conversations, professional surfer stories, comedy, interviews and the weirdest corners of surf culture. #DaneReynolds #KellySlater #Surfing #SurfPodcast #SurfCulture #PinchMySalt #WSL #JackJohnson #RobMachado #ProSurfing #SurfNews #SterlingSpencer KEYWORDS: Dane Reynolds, Dane Reynolds surfing, Kelly Slater, Kelly Slater surfing, Kelly Slater Lowers, Jack Johnson, Jack Johnson surfing, Rob Machado, Sterling Spencer, Cousin Ryan, Pinch My Salt, Pinch My Salt podcast, surf podcast, surfing podcast, surf culture, surf industry, surf industry news, surf news, pro surfing, professional surfing, WSL, World Surf League, Lower Trestles, Lowers surfing, surf contest, surf history, old school surfing, Hawaiian surf culture, California surf culture, surf lifestyle, surf brands, surf fashion, surf videos, viral surfing, surf clips, surfing commentary, surf comedy, women’s surfing, women’s professional surfing, Erin Brooks, Gabriela Bryan, Gen Z surfers, surfing style, surfing progression, surf etiquette, river surfing, Ireland surfing, Lahinch surfing, Cliffs of Moher surfing, big wave surfing, Shane Dorian, Laird Hamilton, Gabriel Medina, Griffin Colapinto, Reef surf, Shaka, surf Shaka, sandals and Shakas, flip flops surfing, skateboard history, surf skate, stem cells, surfing podcast 2026 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jordy Smith joins Sterling Spencer and Cousin Ryan on Pinch My Salt for an unreal conversation about professional surfing, the WSL Championship Tour, Kelly Slater, Dane Reynolds, Andy Irons, Billabong, Nike, O’Neill, Modern Collective, South African surfing, J-Bay, the North Shore of Hawaii, surf movies, sponsorship deals and one of the craziest untold stories in surf history. Jordy Smith is a World Junior Champion, X Games gold medalist, two-time World Title runner-up, Olympian and one of the longest-running surfers in modern Championship Tour history. In this episode, Jordy opens up about growing up in South Africa, becoming one of the most hyped young surfers in the world, being called “the next Kelly Slater,” traveling and surfing with Sterling Spencer as teenagers, competing against Kelly Slater, his legendary Modern Collective section, Dane Reynolds, the golden era of surf films and what professional surfing was really like behind the scenes. But the wildest story might be Jordy Smith’s LOST SURF MOVIE. Jordy and Sterling spent months traveling through South Africa, the Maldives, Australia and beyond filming what was supposed to become Jordy’s breakout surf movie. Then his relationship with Billabong fell apart, the hard drives disappeared, Jordy says he spent nearly 10 YEARS trying to track down the footage—and he still hasn’t seen it. Then came the $500,000 lawsuit. Jordy talks about being a young rookie, coming from very little money in South Africa and suddenly facing a lawsuit so massive that his parents were considering selling their house and cars. It’s an incredible look behind the curtain at the surf industry during one of its biggest eras. We also get into: Jordy Smith vs. Kelly Slater and whether Kelly was ever overscoredThe Jordy Smith vs. Dane Reynolds eraModern Collective and Jordy’s insane surfing in 2010Why Jordy turned down Nike 6.0Flying to Nike headquarters on Phil Knight’s private planeThe truth behind the Michael Jordan rumorsO’Neill, DVS and huge surf sponsorship dealsGrowing up surfing South Africa and Hawaii’s North ShoreJ-Bay and Jordy’s rise through professional surfingAndy Irons and the legendary Billabong surf teamMikey February and South African surf cultureWhy the surf industry changedCore surfing vs. mainstream surfingSurf shops, local shapers and the old surf industryJordy’s plans after the Championship TourChasing undiscovered waves around the worldThe origin story of “YOU KNOW THE RULES”And why Jordy might be one of the funniest surfers alive. This is one of those episodes where surf history, surf culture and stories from professional surfing collide. If you grew up watching surf videos, following the ASP / WSL World Tour, watching Kelly Slater, Andy Irons, Dane Reynolds, Taj Burrow, Joel Parkinson, Jordy Smith and the generation that defined modern surfing, you’re going to love this one. Leave Jordy some love in the comments and tell us: WHERE IS THE LOST JORDY SMITH FOOTAGE? Subscribe to PINCH MY SALT for more long-form surf interviews, surf history, surf culture, comedy, professional surfing stories and conversations with some of the biggest names in surfing. #JordySmith #Surfing #PinchMySalt #WSL #KellySlater #ProfessionalSurfing #SurfPodcast #SurfCulture #DaneReynolds #ModernCollective Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices