Love him or hate him, it’s impossible to deny that Laird Hamilton has played a starring role in surfing’s evolution. From his early adoption of tow surfing to his impact on the importance of a healthy life style as a way to surf for longer and his influence on the proliferation of stand-up paddleboards in lineups, Laird has done a lot for the surfing community.
“Everything I am and have is some indirect part of the ocean,” he told Shawn Ryan. “I owe it my life.”
Laird appeared on Ryan’s podcast, the Shawn Ryan Show, and over the course of their conversation they covered a lot of ground, from his childhood to a near-drowning after Laird decided he’d throw himself off a waterfall during a rafting trip.
“Laird discusses his near-death experiences, reading waves, not conforming to the surfing norm, his accomplishments from Jaws to Teahupo’o, biohacking, the company he started, Laird Superfood, and more,” the description reads. “Shawn and Laird share many comparisons to what we call an ‘adrenaline junkie’ and discuss how Shawn’s background in the SEAL Teams and CIA compares to the life-and-death situations of Laird constantly chasing big waves.”
Listen to the podcast in its entirety on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
