Where The Ocean Meets:

Joel Tasche

My biggest life regret? Studying business instead of marine biology. 💔 The ocean fills me with happiness, wonder, and fascination—yet I know so little about it. By day, I fight ocean plastic pollution to make amends. By night, I create this show. ☯️ This podcast is my journey, as an amateur ocean enthusiast, to explore the ocean as an ecosystem, playground, and economic powerhouse—no expertise required to dive in (though experts might enjoy hearing from their colleagues). If you're curious about the force covering 70% of our planet and sustaining life, join me—listen and follow now. 🌊

  1. 28 May

    How To Actually Get Better At Surfing, Joe Koener?

    What if surfing isn't just a sport, but a lifelong dance with nature that can transform how you approach everything else? In this episode, we sit down with renowned surf coach Joe Koener to break down what it really takes to become a proficient surfer. And why most people are doing it wrong. Unlike sports with a built-in "stop button," surfing forces you to stay engaged with an unpredictable ocean, building adaptability, resilience, and growth in ways few other disciplines can. In this conversation, we dive into: Why surf instruction lags behind disciplines like Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and music — and how to fix itThe 3 pillars of Joe's coaching method: conceptual understanding, skill development, and capacity building The secret to maneuvering and accelerating on a wave: mastering "rail-to-rail" surfingWhy year-round preparation beats relying on surf trips aloneThe fitness baseline every surfer needs to avoid burning out in the lineupHow to choose a surf camp that actually makes you better (hint: it's not about the waves)Why discipline — breath work, stretching, strength training — unlocks real progression, even for free-spirited surfers Whether you're a beginner paddling out for the first time, an intermediate stuck on a plateau, or simply someone chasing mastery in any craft, Joe's insights on commitment, failure, and treating your passion as a long-term practice will hit deep. 🎙️ Pursue what you love with 100% commitment. The ocean is waiting. 👍 Like, subscribe, and hit the bell for more conversations from Where the Ocean Meets with Joel Tasche. 💬 What's your biggest surfing struggle? Drop it in the comments below.

    56 min
  2. 27 Mar

    Why Are Companies Destroying Our Planet Allowed To Make Money? | Where The Ocean Meets: Will Pearson

    Building a Positive Vision for the Future with Will Pearson Episode Summary We haven't had a positive vision of the future since Star Trek in the 1960s. In this episode, I sit down with Will Pearson, co-founder of Ocean Bottle, to design a roadmap for what comes next. From reshaping capitalism to putting the ocean at the center of our economy, we explore how to build systems where businesses give more than they take and planetary healing becomes profitable. Guest Will Pearson - Co-Founder of Ocean Bottle, Forbes 30 Under 30, B-Corp advocate Ocean Bottle has collected over 22 million kg of ocean-bound plastic while building an 8-figure revenue business. Will is also the founder of B+, an initiative bringing together the world's most ambitious companies on climate and nature. Key Topics Reshaping Capitalism: Start, Stop, Keep Why businesses that heal the planet should be profitableThe B+ initiative: connecting regenerative startups with global corporationsMoving from businesses that reduce harm to businesses that create positive impact Ocean-Centered Future Putting ocean health at the center of economic planningMarine protected areas and biodiversity restorationWhy we need sharks back in the MediterraneanPlastic Economy Transformation Design problems: 400-year materials for week-long productsBreaking plastic's dependence on oil industry byproductsBuilding collection infrastructure that provides income opportunities Media and Culture Change Why constructive optimism beats fear-based messagingMaking scientists and ocean researchers the new cultural heroesThe need for platforms that celebrate positive solutions Memorable Quotes "We need to flip the question - instead of asking why environmental companies should be allowed to profit, we should ask why companies destroying the planet are allowed to make money." "Businesses need to give more than what they take. We're getting to a point where companies reduce negative externalities to zero and actually drive positive impact." "Without a doubt, if we can protect the ocean and allow it to regenerate itself, it will be our biggest ally against climate change and the biodiversity crisis." Resources Mentioned B+ Initiative - Community of ambitious climate and nature companiesAtmos & Earthrise Studios - Instagram channels for sustainability stories"Ocean" by David Attenborough - Book recommendation"Blue Mind" - Book on human connection to waterCleanHub - My company partnering with Ocean Bottle on collection Connect with Will Ocean Bottle: oceanbottle.coLinkedIn: ⁠Will Pearson⁠ Connect with Me CleanHub: cleanhub.comLinkedIn: ⁠Joel Tasche⁠ This episode is part of Where The Ocean Meets, exploring the intersection of business, sustainability, and ocean conservation. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

    1hr 10min
  3. 19 Mar

    From MS Diagnosis to World Record Apnea Diver | Where The Ocean Meets: Anna Karina Schmitt

    Smoking, party lifestyle, MS Diagnosis - World Record in Apnea Diving? How do all these things come together? Anna and me sit down to cover her wild ride from speed boats, to finding tranquility at 80m below sea level without oxygen. Join us in this conversation that has more highs and lows than the wild oceans. This is also your chance to acompany a world record dive without getting your feet wet. Summary In this conversation, Anna shares her journey as a world record apnea diver, discussing the mental and physical challenges of freediving, her early experiences with water, and how her diagnosis of multiple sclerosis led her to a healthier lifestyle. She emphasizes the importance of mental preparation, the joy of diving, and the lessons learned from both successes and failures in her sport. Anna also reflects on the deeper connections between humans and water, and how freediving has shaped her perspective on life and health. Takeaways - Anna-Karina set a world record in apnea diving under challenging conditions. - Breath-holding can be a blissful experience when the mind is free of expectations. - Early experiences with water shaped her love for diving. - Freediving provided a sense of community and belonging. - The diagnosis of multiple sclerosis prompted a lifestyle change towards health. - Mental preparation is crucial for success in freediving. - The joy of diving comes from being present in the moment. - Every dive is a learning experience, whether good or bad. - The mind plays a significant role in physical performance. - Freediving teaches resilience and the importance of self-care.

    1hr 3min
  4. 5 Mar

    Will Marine Protected Areas Save Humanity? | Where The Ocean Meets: Dr Fabio Favoretto

    At the UN Oceans Conference, I heard a bold claim from an Australian billionaire: if we turn 30% of the world's ocean into marine protected areas, we can fix the oceans. This sparked a fascinating conversation with Dr. Fabio Favoretto, an internationally renowned marine scientist who has dedicated his career to researching these protected zones. What started as an academic discussion turned into one of the most entertaining and eye-opening conversations about ocean conservation. Dr. Favoretto paints vivid pictures of healthy oceans where the sun goes dark from massive schools of tuna, and of devastated seas that have become underwater deserts. He explains what marine protected areas really are, why they're so controversial, and the surprising obstacles we face in establishing them.Most importantly, this conversation offers hope - because the science shows that when we stop interfering, nature doesn't just survive, it explodes back to life with breathtaking speed. About FabioDr. Fabio Favoretto - Marine ecologist and internationally renowned scientist specializing in marine protected areas research. With over 4,000 dives around the world, Dr. Favoretto has conducted groundbreaking research at Mexico's Revillagigedo Archipelago and works to demonstrate how ocean protection benefits both marine ecosystems and fishing communities. In this epsode you will learn about:Marine Protected Areas (MPAs): What they are and why only 3% of the ocean is truly protected Ocean Recovery: How ecosystems can bounce back in just 10 years when left alone The Mediterranean Crisis: How Europe's sea was transformed from a biodiverse paradise to an underwater desert Industrial vs. Artisanal Fishing: The real culprits behind ocean depletion The Spillover Effect: How protecting areas actually helps fishermen 30 by 2030 Movement: The global push to protect 30% of oceans by 2030 Hope and Solutions: Why getting out of nature's way is the key to recovery Key Quotes"The sun darkened. Everything went and I could feel the movement of the water because thousands of tunas were like just going... you could see like, like basically Formula One cars." - Dr. Favoretto describing an encounter at Revillagigedo "That was stolen from me. I could have dove with mantas, white sharks, turtles, seals... I could have dove in the Mediterranean Sea, and I cannot anymore." - On the degradation of the Mediterranean "The ocean is not dying. The ocean will never die... We are the ones that are paying the price, but we are not realizing it." "We can do almost whatever we want with 97% of the ocean. So what are we talking about? We are really fighting about the 3%." "It's either protect or go extinct." Resources Mentioned Revillagigedo Archipelago (Mexico's "Galapagos") Pristine Seas Initiative (National Geographic) Cabo Pulmo Marine Protected Area success story "The Unnatural History of the Sea" by Carl Roberts 30 by 2030: ocean protection movement Stay tuned for more deep dives into ocean conservation, marine science, and the people working to protect our blue planet.

    59 min

About

My biggest life regret? Studying business instead of marine biology. 💔 The ocean fills me with happiness, wonder, and fascination—yet I know so little about it. By day, I fight ocean plastic pollution to make amends. By night, I create this show. ☯️ This podcast is my journey, as an amateur ocean enthusiast, to explore the ocean as an ecosystem, playground, and economic powerhouse—no expertise required to dive in (though experts might enjoy hearing from their colleagues). If you're curious about the force covering 70% of our planet and sustaining life, join me—listen and follow now. 🌊