Guest Hosted by London Surf Film Festival's, Demi Taylor, dive into conversation with Sachi Cunningham as we discuss Saachi’s SeaChange documentary; a film about female empowerment, competitive surfing and equity in the big wave arena. An insightful conversation about the two lives spent in submerged in sea and surf culture, creativity, cold water and the power of film.

First up in our Canadian mini series, and after a long time waiting, we finally met with master craftsman, Mark McInnis. Recognised as one of the first surf photographers to really ply his trade in the Pacific Northwest, Mark has gone on to establish himself over a 13 year plus career as one of the most respected surf photographers out there. His work synonymous with cold, hostile, often snowcapped environments.

This next episode is an insightful and astute conversation with Rachel Dickens, co-founder of Canada’s Indigenous youth surf team ‘Mułaa’, an organisation rebuilding the indigenous youth’s connection to their ancestral waters through surf and the joy of riding waves. Rachel is also a Health Care Professional specialising as a diabetic dietician within First Nation communities. As a mixed ancestry indigenous women herself, Rachel uses ‘food as medicine’ to actively engage with Indigenous food systems.

A household name on Vancouver Island and most certainly in the wider conservation space given his growing audience on the like of Instagram, amassing over 250k followers… Ross Reid is a self proclaimed ‘Science Communicator’ or ‘Outdoor Educator’ and does so with fast, intellectual, wit and wisdom. Through his energetic edits, he not only educates but also inspires his audience to forge a stronger connection to our planet.

For this next episode, we sit down with a saltwater soul who’d rival most people for time spent in the sea. Aline Carrier is another person with an insatiable passion for their profession. Fisheries Specialist, Oceanographer, Freediver, Surfer, sailor, Ali is someone who’s obsession for the sea stands as testament to the profound connections that can be forged between humans and the ocean. Seamlessly managing to blend her academic world, adventurous spirit and deep-seated curiosity to dive headfirst into her aquatic surroundings.

A reactive and insightful episode to coincide with their Kickstarter campaign, we speak with Director Lewis Arnold and Writer Chris Nelson on the environmental surf film of the moment, The Big Sea. The Big Sea is an independent, investigative documentary exploring the toxic nature of wetsuits, the true human cost of neoprene production and surfing’s link to Cancer Alley. To learn more about the film and for ways to get involved yourself, head on over to https://thebigsea.org

Lucas Beaufort, a self-described dreamer, living in a world surrounded by beautiful monsters, Lucas’ distinctive artwork explores the connections mirroring his own affinity with the world and people around him. From his interwoven net-like murals to ‘Gus Gus’, the playful character who wanders the world experiencing all without seeing or judging, we worked closely with Lucas to adorn the range with bespoke designs, exclusive to the collaboration. In celebration of his work and creative output, we had Lucas down in Cornwall with us back in July - a few days on the cliff with the Finisterre crew and the rest of the thriving Cornish creative crowd. We hosted one of Lucas’ inspired art camps, inviting a host of local art-smiths to put brush to canvas to beautiful effect. All topped off nicely with a bit of a knees up, a glass of savvy b and some pétanque - a big thanks to all who came by and revelled in the art and counter culture with us.

A strong connection to the ocean, growing up between London and the south coast of England. Harry Potter series. What we can all do in our day to day lives. Climate anxiety. Def. An inspiring and approachable tip-filled guide to changing your habits, living more sustainably, and taking action, by Greenpeace ambassador Bonnie Wright. In Go Gently, Bonnie won’t tell you to overhaul your life. Instead, she’ll meet you where you are, offering a crash course in climate-related issues along with practical tips, skills, and recipes that can start you on your own best path. She’ll show you that small things like educating yourself on which materials can be recycled, and how learning to mend your clothes instead of throwing them away or turning your coffee grounds into an incredible exfoliating scrub, will naturally lead to big-picture thinking and living.

After 16 years as the Surfrider Foundation’s Environmental Director, Dr Chad Nelsen was the obvious choice when selecting their next CEO. An activist, campaigner, family man and avid waterman he brings insight and experience to the fight to protect our ocean playgrounds The Surfrider Foundation USA is a U.S. 501c grassroots non-profit environmental organization that works to protect and preserve the world's oceans, waves and beaches. It focuses on water quality, beach access, beach and surf spot preservation, and sustaining marine and coastal ecosystems.

Next up in our Californian Omnibus we met with Christian Beamish – Surfer, Shaper, Sailor and Writer, Christian is somewhat of an underground yet widely known stalwart of the surfing world. Calling the likes of the Malloy brothers, Greg Long and others close friends. A lifelong devotee of surf, frequenting waves from Ireland to France and the Philippines plus countless others off the beaten track accessible to him whilst serving in the U.S. Navy – Christian has quietly dedicated his life to the sea. More thoroughly accounted for was his solo sail from San Diego down through Baja in his self-constructed boat, beautifully retold in ‘Voyage of the Cormorant – memoir of a changeable sea’. A line of sight crossing and self-reliant exploration for surf – one that saw him sleeping under canvas tarp whist anchored up to the kelp beds, surfing and fishing in pristine ocean with no one around and lentil and coffee rations as he lived by the weather systems in an 18foot open boat. The book not just about the sailing and the people he met along the way but a wonderful account of an inner and outer journey. There are few people able to write about surf in a way that speaks to a wider audience, William Finnegan always comes to mind, but Christian is certainly another. Something that no doubt comes through years of experience as associate editor of the revered Surfers Journal. In sitting down, we spoke about stoking the fire for adventure, night surfing and deep-water surf, board shaping and boat building and went off on a few other tangents you’ll come to hear. Ill add, we were sat in the showroom behind Christians shaping bay so you will hear some background chatter and a cameo from Chrstians daughter halfway through… So here we go, Episode 18 of Hell or High Water with Christian Beamish – Boats, Boards and Baja.

Welcome back… thanks for tuning in as we find ourselves in steady flow of new episodes. Thinking on this next one in our California omnibus, it would be fair to say that in a time where just about every outrageous human endeavor or era defining accomplishment has been done - one where you need to climb not one but 14 peaks to get into the record books, it becomes rarer and rarer that first ascents or descents, circumnavigations or pole to pole expeditions are celebrated. Our guest for episode 17 is one of those rare people. In this instance, a first descent of a moving mountain from 20+ years ago, but arguably more relevant now than ever. Sarah Gerhardt was the first woman to surf the wave Mavericks in California’s Half Moon Bay. A wave described as a ‘flat out kick ass wave that will pulverise you if you’re not on your toes”. A wave that has launched the careers of surfers, photographers and many others, giving some the rides of their lives, but also a wave that has taken lives, remembering the great Mark Foo. A wave that for 15 years was ridden alone by one man, Jeff Clarke before it was discovered by the big wave surfing community. It was Sarah Gerhardt however who braved these cold, dark, sharky waters dominated by a cold, unwelcoming crowd to paddle herself into the history books. What followed was instant fame and recognition but also instant backlash from the surfing community itself. From all appearances though Sarah took it in her stride, focusing on what was important and surrounding herself with a tight knit crew of peers - paddling against the flow when others wouldn’t. We spoke on the madness of overnight acclaim to earning your stripes and navigating a male dominated line up. The intersection of science and sport and the journey of equity in women’s big wave surfing. So here we go, Episode 17 of Hell or High Water with Sarah Gerhardt – Mavericks Maverick

Moving from San Francisco down to San Diego through some of the countries most epic coastal communities we caught up with cold water swimmers, ocean activists, big wave pioneers and more as we looked to bring you more stories from the sea to inspire and protect what we love. As we touched down in San Fran, we took no time at all in getting in the cold waters of the Bay Area. There wasn’t a better person to show us the local spots than the incredible Bonnie Tsui (Soy) - swimmer, surfer, mother and author of the fascinating book, Why We Swim. We spoke with Bonnie on her introduction to the life altering practice of ocean swimming, her journey to becoming a surfer, water and wellbeing, the ongoing issues of inequality and access to swimming and how getting in the sea can even cure stupidity! So sliding right into our conversation… here we go. Episode 15 with Bonnie Tsui - Why We Swim / Why We Surf

For Episode 2 of this California Mini Series - we sat down with Nik Strong-Cvetich, CEO of Save The Waves Coalition. Founded in 2003, its Mission Objective is to protect surfing ecosystems around the world - where surfing provides a vehicle for long-term coastal conservation. One way in which they do this is by instating some of the beautiful, accessible and often under-threat areas of our coastlines as World Surfing Reserves - Areas recognised as having key environmental, cultural and economic attributes to costal communities. To date there are 12 recognised World Surfing Reserves around the globe, most recently North Devon having been announced as the 12th thanks to the work of local surfers, businesses and organisations like STW. As we sit down with many experts and people of this persuasion on the show, its becomes more apparent the type of character and grit required to tackle the countless obstacles and curves balls that are rife in this line of work. Nik Strong-Cvetich - Strong by name, Strong by nature appears to take this all in his stride. A dogged determination and a steely disposition, Nik and his team are currently firing on all cylinders as the ocean space and coastal ecosystem holds the worlds attention more than ever before. Nik is a passionate surfer himself, go figure, and a true Santa Cruz local - he is also a family man and without speaking for him, it’s clear that he is motivated to do the work he does to protect and preserve the beautifully raw and rugged home coastland for his children's future too.

Throughout the year, OPEN hosts world-class surfer-shapers residencies, giving everyday surfers an opportunity to own a hand shaped surfboard from some of the most respected names in the industry - including to date Simon Anderson, Neil Purchase Jr, Josh Keough, and our very special guest today, Beau Young! Surfer, shaper, musician and 2x world long-board champion. Beau’s surfing is as stylish today as it was back on his world title runs, something that likely results from knowing his equipment inside out, hand shaped by himself - a process we touch on a few times. We spoke about all the things you’d expect from a conversation with a surfing world champ - the fire for competition, the purity of surfing itself, the art of hand shaping and an ever-evolving love affair with the sea. Safe to say we couldn’t have this conversation without mentioning Beau’s father, Australian Nat Young, 5x world surfing champion and a name synonymous with surfing worldwide, primarily because he, along with a few others ushered in the new era of surf and the shortboard revolution in the mid-1960’s.

Bella Collins is one part of the incredible Ocean Sheroes, an all-woman rowing crew who raced 2,400 hard nautical miles across the Pacific Ocean last year in world record attempt. Setting off from San Francisco and finishing at Hawaii’s Waikiki harbour as part of the gruelling, unsupported, BONKERS Great Pacific Race. Hailing from Essex way, Bella now calls Cornwall home working for the pioneering packaging experts, Flexi-Hex. As such, Bella joined us at the workshops a couple of weeks back to rally the Finisterre troops into action in way of January morale booster - applying the theory of strength, resilience, and teamwork of an ocean row, to business. We speak on the mental fortitude required for such a race. Understanding and playing to the strengths and weaknesses of the team around you. Squeaky bum moments in the middle of the Pacific Ocean and the importance of remaining present in each moment of an experience like this.

For our first episode of 2022 we’re coming out swinging with one our of closest allies and one of the most inspired ’ocean and surf activists’ out there, Hugo Tagholm, CEO of Surfers Against Sewage and Finisterre Ambassador. For those who don’t know, Surfers Against Sewage is a marine conservation charity working with communities to protect oceans, waves, beaches and marine life. It was created in 1990 by a group of Cornish surfers from the villages of St Agnes and Porthtowan on the North coast of Cornwall. A neighbour of ours up here at Wheal Kitty Workshops, we have seen Hugo and the team at SAS grow and achieve a multitude of success over the past 10 years alone with Hugo at the helm and are fast becoming recognized as of one of the most important UK charities of the moment.

This week and to bridge the gap between this years roster and next years line up, we’ve wrapped up a little special for you of some of the best bits from our 2021 guests. It's a bit of a hash up, remix if you will, so in way of introduction and in order of appearance… here’s who to listen for... Our inaugural episode with Ambassador Easkey Britton…We dived in the deep end on all things blue mind and the human / nature connect. One of the most captivating storytellers in, Pete Goss, MBE…His heroic solo circumnavigation in the 1996 Vendee Globe. Director Pippa Ehrlich, the lady behind the lens of 2020’s Oscar Award Winning, My Octopus Teacher. A conversation I’ve long been meaning to have with THE most stoked scientist out there, Charles Post on passionate conservation, science and surf. Good friend of Finisterre Sam Bencheghib and his off the cuff ocean to ocean - NY to LA run across America to save our seas and the plight of plastic pollution. Our first double whammy with Waves For Change Founders Tim Conibear and Ambassador Apish Testscha - discussion the building wave of momentum for surf therapy across South Africa and indeed the world. An honest and frank discussion with the Gail Gallie of Project Everyone on COP26 and the climate conversation at large. And last but not least, Melissa Reid, the now 3x ISA World Surfing Champion and her journey through sport as a partially sighted surfer and triathlete. So here we go….

For Episode 10 we tuned in with a genuine surfing champion, with the legendary and unmistakable initials of MR. Now, I’m not talking about Australian surfing icon Mark Richards, but instead British surfing hero, Melissa Reid. Melissa, much like her Australian counterpart is not your average surfer. Melissa is a 2x World Champion in the AmpSurf ISA World Para Surfing Championships - making her Britain’s only ever Surfing World Champion. She is the first visually impaired female to have a surfing world title and the first British person to ever win a world title in surfing. She is also a Paratriathlete and Olympic bronze medallist - and in my eyes one of the most interesting surfing figures of the moment.

For episode 9, we tune into one of the more pressing conversations of the moment, and of our time with the COP26 negotiations upon us. For those unaware - COP26 or Conference of the Parties is the 5th gathering since the Paris agreement back in 2015 - where global leaders committed to cutting emissions and set the goals of keeping global temperature increase below 2 degrees. Hosted in Glasgow, UK - while many things will be discussed, the main goal of of this years conference is to achieve net zero by 2050. And as Alok Sharma, the man presiding over it all said - ‘This is our last chance to avoid the worst effects of climate change.’

We are back this week with another special of sorts and a slight diversion from our usual subjects. Following on from an initial prelude conversation during our Sea7 Ocean Activist Training Camp, we’re diving back into the debate of clothing and climate and the role the fashion industry and businesses like ourselves play. As such, we assembled a group of leading creatives, climate strategists, consumer and circular innovators to engage in an uncomfortable conversation if you will, discussing everything consumerism, carbon, circularity, action and optimism. Hosted by our very own Product Director, Debbie Luffman, in our London store, our guests included…