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Artwork for Mad Surf Stories podcast

Mad Surf Stories podcast

James Russell
Galapagos Islands
Sustainable Coastlines
Samoa
Brett Archibald
New Zealand
James Russell
Plastic Pollution
Shark Bite Incident
Reunion Island
Chris Nel
Tsunami
Neck Injury
Panama
Rehabilitation
Indian Ocean
Drowning
Boxing Day Tsunami
Sri Lanka
Bull Sharks
Tire Mouth

Surfers, by their nature, are an adventurous lot. But where adventure goes, calamity is never far behind. Surfers are also brilliant storytellers. Join surf novelist James Russell as he chats to his ridiculously intrepid guests about close calls, shipwrecks, wildlife (and lowlife) encounters, heroism, exploration, discovery and freedom. Follow: Got a Mad Surf Story? Get in touch - james@dragonbrot... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes10Founded4 months ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Sports

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Artwork for Mad Surf Stories podcast

Latest Episodes

Part 2. In this episode we rejoin South African surfer Brett Archibald whose Mentawais surf trip with the boys went horribly wrong when he fell overboard in the throngs of a bout of food poisoning.

At this point in the story he’s exhausted, dehydra... more

It all started so well. Brett Archibald was on a Ments trip with his buddies and was looking forward to barrels and Bintangs, but when he ate a dodgy calzone pizza and ended up with food poisoning, the sh*t hit the fan in the most insane way.

Buckl... more

Daniel Poole’s life can be divided into ‘before’ and ‘after’. He has devoted his career to helping those facing natural disasters, and it all started when he faced one himself.

What began as an idyllic surfing adventure quickly spiralled into a fig... more

Dr Will Allen was a trainee doctor in Dunedin, a small city in the South Island of New Zealand, when he and his fellow students decided to surf a remote beach south of the city. What should have been an enjoyable morning in fun waves turned into a re... more

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Recent Guests

Brett Archibald
South African surfer who fell overboard and survived a long ordeal at sea
Professional surfer, author, charity advocate
Episode: Part 2: Man overboard: Brett Archibald's Mad Surf Story
Daniel Poole
Surfer and humanitarian professional featured guest
ShelterBox (program manager for Western Central Africa); former Rescue Global staff
Episode: Surviving the Boxing Day Tsunami: Daniel's Poole's Mad Surf Story
Will Allen
Intensive care doctor; surf med/prehospital expert
Episode: Mass rescue in a freezing rivermouth: Dr Will Allen's Mad Surf Story
Elliot Foote
Guest surfer and storyteller invited to share a Mad Surf Story
Surfer, public speaker, chippy by trade (as described in episode)
Episode: Lost at sea: Elliot Foote's Mad Surf Story (Part 1)
Steve Bewley
Surfer who recounts his life‑changing accident and recovery
Episode: Breaking your neck whilst surfing: Steve Bewley's Mad Surf Story
Chris Nel
Surfer and interviewee who shares the Samoa tsunami story
Unspecified in transcript
Episode: Surfing during a tsunami: Chris Nel's Mad Surf Story
Erwann Lagabrielle
Scientist specializing in shark risk; later lecturer
Shark Security Center (and university liaison)
Episode: Saving a shark-bite victim: Erwann Lagabrielle's Mad Surf Stories
Sam Judd
Founder/CEO of Sustainable Coastlines, environmental advocate
Sustainable Coastlines
Episode: Chomped by a shark: Sam Judd's Mad Surf Story

Host

James Russell
Host of Mad Surf Stories

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#180
Australia/Sports
Apple Podcasts
#54
New Zealand/Sports
Apple Podcasts
#188
Spain/Sports
Apple Podcasts
#194
Norway/Sports
Apple Podcasts
#223
South Africa/Sports

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Chomped by a shark: Sam Judd's Mad Surf Story
Q: How do you translate personal fear into broader public impact?
By sharing the story openly, focusing on lessons learned, and showing tangible actions people can take—like organizing coastal cleanups and designing better waste systems—so others feel empowered to participate.
Chomped by a shark: Sam Judd's Mad Surf Story
Q: What role did this experience play in starting Sustainable Coastlines in the Galapagos context?
The attack highlighted the vulnerability of remote environments and the need for organized cleanup and education, which helped secure partnerships and funding to formalize cleanup initiatives and training across the Pacific.
Chomped by a shark: Sam Judd's Mad Surf Story
Q: How did the Galapagos shark bite alter your outlook on surfing and safety?
It reinforced the importance of preparation (first aid, equipment) and resilience; it also sparked a drive to turn a traumatic event into a catalyst for environmental action and community education.
Part 2: Man overboard: Brett Archibald's Mad Surf Story
Q: Tell me about the charity work you've started and how the book came together.
The guest explains that after surviving the ordeal he founded Crystal House to help children from impoverished townships through education and support, and that the book was born from meticulous notes and interviews to document the experience for his kids and a wider audience, eventually becoming a best-seller in multiple regions.
Surfing during a tsunami: Chris Nel's Mad Surf Story
Q: Before we get into the events, can you tell us a bit about who you are and how you got into surfing?
I was born in South Africa, moved to Wellington and then to the Bay of Islands; surfing became a family activity that shaped my life and career in waves and storytelling.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Mad Surf Stories podcast

What is Mad Surf Stories podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A rugged, high-adventure show where surfers recount life‑or‑death moments at sea and on the shore. Episodes blend adrenaline‑fueled survival tales with personal growth, community impact, and public‑safety lessons—from near-drownings and shipwrecks to shark encounters, tsunamis, and medical evacuations. Guests range from elite surfers to scientists and humanitarian responders, often weaving in resilience, mindset, and ways to translate crisis into advocacy or action. The arc across episodes typically centers on courage, teamwork, and learning from extreme experiences to improve safety, awareness, and ocean stewardship for listeners who crave authentic, actionable narratives and insight from high‑risk environments.

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1. AIN'T THAT SWELL

How many episodes of Mad Surf Stories podcast are there?

Mad Surf Stories podcast launched 4 months ago and published 10 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Mad Surf Stories podcast?

Recent guests on Mad Surf Stories podcast include:

1. Brett Archibald
2. Daniel Poole
3. Will Allen
4. Elliot Foote
5. Steve Bewley
6. Chris Nel
7. Erwann Lagabrielle
8. Sam Judd

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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