The Surfrider Podcast

Legendary pro surfer Rob Machado is widely regarded as one of the most influential and stylish surfers of all time. But Rob's relationship with and impact on surfing and the ocean run much deeper than his professional career. In this episode, Rob shares about his deep family roots in Southern California and traces his personal journey as an ocean advocate — from taking water samples for Surfrider's Blue Water Task Force as a high school student in Cardiff to founding the Rob Machado Foundation, which has installed water refill stations across San Diego County schools and eliminated millions of single-use plastic bottles. In this wide-ranging conversation, he opens up about the competitive mindset that took him to the pinnacle of the world tour, why that famous high-five with Kelly Slater at Pipeline actually deepened his connection to what surfing should be, and how becoming a father shifted his priorities from tour life to environmental stewardship. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Despite federal environmental rollbacks and budget cuts to NOAA and EPA, the Surfrider Foundation secured more than 40 coastal victories in 2025 — proving that grassroots activism and community-level action can still deliver real results for ocean protection. CEO Dr. Chad Nelsen and senior staff Emma Haydocy and Miho Ligare reflect on groundbreaking wins, including the completion of the 30-year Surfers Point coastal adaptation project and the Climate Action Program's restoration of 20+ acres of coastal habitat with the help of over 2,000 volunteers. The team also shares how Ocean Friendly Restaurants served 42 million single-use plastic-free meals, and Surfrider brought the plastics crisis to international negotiations in Geneva, Switzerland. But 2026 brings urgent new threats. The Trump administration is proposing to open the coasts of California, Florida, and Alaska to new offshore drilling — sparking bipartisan opposition from coastal communities across the country. With federal protections crumbling and a January 23, 2026, public comment deadline looming, this episode breaks down what's at stake and how you can take action at surfrider.org. Whether you're concerned about beach erosion, plastic pollution, water quality, or climate change impacts on your favorite coastline, discover how Surfrider's network of volunteers, chapters, and policy experts is protecting the beaches you love — and how you can join the movement. 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

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

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