Rising Tide: The Ocean Podcast
For over seven years Rising Tide has been a refreshing, irreverent dive into the lives, work, and explorations of today’s leading and diverse ocean voices.
Each half-hour episode co-hosted by David Helvarg of Blue Frontier and Vicki Nichols Goldstein of the Inland Ocean Coalition sails through lively discussions with our guests about marine life, culture, and critical issues affecting our rapidly changing seas. Informative, enlightening, and often humorous it is an invaluable resource for anyone passionate about understanding, enjoying, and protecting our salty blue world.
Surfing with Cigarettes?
Every year, trillions of cigarette butts get flicked onto beaches, sidewalks, and storm drains — and from there, straight into the sea. They're the single most littered item on the planet, a toxic little bomb of plastic and carcinogens disguised as a habit. Surfer and filmmaker Taylor Lane decided to do something about it: he built a surfboard out of 10,000 of them.
What started as a beach cleanup stunt became a movement. In this episode, documentary filmmaker Ben Judkins joins Rising Tide to talk about The Cigarette Surfboard — the film that followed Lane from Santa Cruz beach cleanups to Mavericks' big-wave lineup, and from a Surfrider design contest to city council chambers, where his boards helped push through bans on single-use cigarette filters across three California cities. It's a story about surfers using their platform for something bigger than the next wave — and about what it actually takes to hold Big Tobacco accountable, not just for the cancers it causes, but for the plastic it leaves behind on every beach in the world.
The Cigarette Surfboard is streaming now through September 27th at eventive.org.
The Salty Rising Tide Crew
At the heart of our remarkable Blue Frontier community are some people helping turn the tide. Our team members are multi-talented individuals & activists who have a genuine love for the ocean and intimate connection with the issues that threaten it’s health and with that the health of the planet.
David Helvarg
Host & Executive Director
Author and Executive Director of Blue Frontier, an ocean policy group, and co-host of the Rising Tide Ocean Podcast (and radio show).
Natasha Benjamin
Co-Host & Producer
Natasha has almost 20 years’ experience working in marine science and policy and a strong dedication for ocean conservation.
Vicki Nichols Goldstein
Inland Ocean Coalition
Co-Host
Founder of the Inland Ocean Coalition, and for 10 years served as Executive Director, and a lifelong ocean advocate.
Holden Hardcastle
Fluid Studios
Producer
Bringing people together through events, developing dynamic brands to change the world, and inspiring teams that yield inspirational results.
Charles Landon
Podcast Editor
A photojournalist who worked for 40 years at the CBS affiliate in San Diego. He has won numerous Emmy, Golden Mikes and a National Press Photographer award.
Nick Paz
Media Coordinator
Nick is an oceanography graduate from Cal Maritime with a passion for environmental stewardship, equitable outdoor access, and creating and fostering inclusive ocean communities.