Split Peak Soup

Neal Kearney
  • 5.0 (1)
  • SOCIETY & CULTURE

Welcome to Split Peak Soup Podcast! I’m your host, Neal Kearney. I feel very blessed to have been born and raised here in Santa Cruz, California. Santa Cruz is a hotbed for talented individuals, including, but not limited to: professional surfers and skaters, master surfboard shapers, internationally renowned artists, expert musicians, boundary pushing intellectual thinkers, and out-of-this-world explorers of consciousness.  Working as a professional journalist for the past twenty-plus years, I’ve had the opportunity to sit down with these extraordinary humans and in-depth and insightful chats. While these discussions have helped inform many written pieces that I’m proud of, I oftentimes felt that I was leaving a lot of meat left on the bone, as the few quotes I’d incorporate into my writing oftentimes seemed to strip my interviewees of their own authentic voices. Luckily, we are entering a brave new world, where the podcast has risen as a popular form of storytelling and media consumption. From Joe Rogan to Conan O’Brien, podcasters have officially taken over. And now, I’m joining the fray. The Split Peak Soup Podcast is my way of using my skills as a story-teller to offer long format conversations with those whose stories deserve to be told. So, what are you waiting for? Pull up a cozy chair, grab a napkin and your favorite spoon, and get ready to dig into another savory serving of Split Peak Soup!

  1. Split Peak Soup Podcast Episode 17--Scott Crump

    MAR 9

    Split Peak Soup Podcast Episode 17--Scott Crump

    Send a text I’ve always admired surfboard shapers. The amount of tenacity, grit, and dedication required to consistently produce boards that work is staggering. Materials are costly, and it takes thousands of hours of work and hundreds of finished shapes before a shaper can claim any semblance of mastery over their craft. In order to be profitable, not only does a shaper have to believe in themselves, they have to have a product that is undeniable in it’s ability to deliver that feeling that every surfer is looking for. Nowadays, where mass-produced giants of the industry have a stranglehold on the market, it’s amazing to see smaller scale custom surfboard brands fighting the good fight in the face of these corporate juggernauts. One such shaper is former professional surfer Scott Crump, of Sol Life surfboards.  Since the 1980’s, Crump has been applying his vast ocean knowledge and love for design into his custom surfboards and the results speak for themselves. He’s forged blades for some of the best surfers in the world, including Adam Replogle, Bud Freitas, Gabriel Medina, and Shane Powell. Currently Crump is residing in Noosa Heads, Australia, not too far from the spitting sand bottom pointbreaks of the Gold Coast.  Crumpy supported me during my own short run as a competitive surfer, so I was more than happy to have him on the podcast while he was in town to deliver some boards. During our chat we discussed his upbringing, introduction to competitive surfing, early sponsorships and mentors, time spent as a team manager for Billabong, design theory, and how he met his lovely wife, Tia. We also discussed the merits of his latest obsessions, twin-fins and channel-bottomed surfboards. Crumpy is a real one, and this is an episode that you don’t want to miss!

    1h 22m
  2. Split Peak Soup Podcast Episode 16--Noah "Waggy" Wegrich

    FEB 19

    Split Peak Soup Podcast Episode 16--Noah "Waggy" Wegrich

    Send a text It’s no secret that professional surfers are a dying breed, especially here in Santa Cruz. Twenty-five years ago, in order to get a paycheck from a big surf brand, all you needed was a decent air game and a good relationship with at least one local photographer. Nowadays, if you wanna see any coin come your way, you better have that, a boatload of charisma, connections, and good looks. Luckily, thirty-two year-old Seacliff local Noah “Waggy” Wegrich, has all that, and then some. The lanky goofyfoot is currently enjoying his reign as the king of local Santa Cruz professional surfers—traveling to exotics locales to film movie parts, modeling for his sponsors, regularly nailing mondo airs, and marrying and making babies with his dream babe, Natalie. While getting paid to shred the gnar and look pretty doing it might inflate a surfer’s ego, that’s not just the case with Waggy. He’s respectful in the lineup and a true gentleman on land. I’ve never heard one negative thing come out of his mouth and he seems beyond grateful for all the opportunities his surfing has brought him. That’s why I was so stoked to have him on the latest installment of the Split Peak Soup podcast! During our chat, we touched on a range of subjects, including his humble beginnings as a South Side beach rat, first contest win and sponsorship opportunities, hopes for the afterlife, opinions on wavepools and sharky lineups, and much more. We also spoke about his excitement for the premiere of “Keeping in the Shadows”, an independent surf film he’s been working on with Perry Gershkow for the past six years. Waggy is a class act, so do yourself a favor, hit that play button and prepare to soak up some knowledge from a truly original Santa Cruz icon.

    1h 31m
  3. Split Peak Soup Podcast Episode 15--Brock Johnson

    FEB 3

    Split Peak Soup Podcast Episode 15--Brock Johnson

    Send a text It’s not rare for pioneers to be labeled as “crazy” or “lunatics”. After all, they’re treading ground where no one’s been before. From the outside looking in, this can appears reckless or misguided.  While this reaction may have its merit, it falls short of seeing the big picture—as an action that seems insane or impossible today, comes to be routine and mundane tomorrow. Just look at big wave surfing or base-jumping—people are regularly pushing the limits of what’s considered possible. All because one individual had the courage to take that leap of faith. Enter Brock Johnson. Brock is a talented twenty-one year-old multidisciplinary athlete who grew up on Santa Cruz’s Eastside. At a young age he cut his teeth shredding 26th avenue and sharpening his skate tricks at the many parks in and around town. Along with snowboarding, Brock fell in love with riding bikes. As his love for riding grew, he began bringing his board sport chops to the streets—climbing up the bike and balancing with one foot on the seat and the other on the handlebars. Known colloquially as “bike surfing”, this obscure, and dangerous pastime does have a growing contingent of similar minded speed freaks, but Brock has made a name for himself by bringing it to the next level.  Instead of just cruising down the street, Brock finds the steepest, sketchiest hills in the Bay Area and bike-surfs down them at breakneck speeds. One wrong move and it’s a four foot drop to the road and unforgiving cement landing. Brock bombs these hills like a bat out of Hell, with style to spare. In this episode, we delve into his radical obsession, exploring topics such his past as a surfer/skater, how he developed his bike-surfing style, his love for fitness and wellbeing, dealing with injuries, and how coped with the spotlight after his stunts went viral online. Brock’s wise behind his years— so listen closely. When you’re done, lick your lips, warsh yer hands, and wait patiently for the next serving of SPLIT PEAK SOUP!

    1h 27m
  4. Split Peak Soup Podcast Episode 14--Kyle Marty

    JAN 19

    Split Peak Soup Podcast Episode 14--Kyle Marty

    Send a text What a gift it is to call Santa Cruz, California, home. For those of us lucky enough to have grown up in this idyllic beach town, familiarity with the ocean often starts at an early age. Whether the introduction comes in the form of surf lessons by a family member or participation in the Junior Lifeguard programs, we learn early on how to protect ourselves, and others, from the perils of an unruly sea. And beyond that? Many local surfers take the skills they’ve acquired during this formative time of their lives and apply it to a greater cause, including careers in lifeguarding and firefighting.  One such local legend is Kyle Marty, who cut his teeth in the lifesaving biz working as a State Lifeguard, spending his summers making sure that ocean lovers could enjoy their time at Santa Cruz’s many beautiful beaches safely. From there, he graduated to the role of firefighter, joining an elite group of men and women, including his brother Dustin, responding to the calls of citizens in need. Marty is also an invaluable member of the Marine Rescue Unit— firefighters trained specifically for responding to calls involving the ocean. As a talented surfer, he also found a calling as a part of the Mavericks Rescue team— a group of courageous watermen who volunteer their time manning jet-ski’s to patrol the heavy waters of the fabled break in Half Moon Bay, performing dramatic pick-ups for downed big-wave riders. In this episode, we touched on his origins as a waterman, first responder, and big wave rider. We outlined the dangers facing uneducated surfers during extreme high tides along the perilous cliffs that line our shores, and how we all have a responsibility to educate and come to the aid of these misguided beginners whenever possible.  It was a pleasure to have this talented young man on the podcast, and we could all learn a thing or two from his extensive experience. Kick back, grab a beverage and enjoy this educational and essential episode of Split Peak Soup!

    1h 30m
  5. Split Peak Soup Podcast Episode 13-- Tyler Fox

    JAN 3

    Split Peak Soup Podcast Episode 13-- Tyler Fox

    Send a text From the late 1980’s, up until the late 2000’s, being a professional surfer in Santa Cruz was a legitimate career path. Sure, you had to have skill, a strong work ethic and enough charisma to secure corporate sponsorships, but there was enough money floating around during those years that a host of local surfers were able to forgo higher education and 9-5 jobs to live as handsomely paid pro surfers. Just look at the successful careers of guys like Jason “Ratboy” Collins, Adam Replogle, and Daryl “Flea” Virostko, just to name a few. After the global economic collapse of 2008, however, things got a little sketchy. Iconic pro’s began to lose backing from brands and global competition for resources began to skyrocket. Unless you were someone like Nat Young, whose insane free surfing and competitive prowess earned him a place at the top of the global ranks for many years, making it big as a successful pro surfer became an unrealistic pursuit. For guys like Tyler Fox, whose blistering surfing skill and ability to wrangle gargantuan rides at Mavericks would have seen him coasting by as a career pro in years past, this unpleasant truth came as a big wake up call. To pivot, he began a photo sharing website, Santa Cruz Waves, where surfers of all skill level could pay a small fee for snapshots from their session, taken by Fox and a variety of other local photographers. It wasn’t long until the site began to acquire significant traction and traffic. Encouraged by his success, Fox decided to leverage his connections and momentum to turn Santa Cruz Waves into a print magazine. For nearly a decade, Fox and the crew at Waves put out a quality, bi-monthly magazine that spotlighted local athletes, artists, activists and move-makers. Through it all, Fox kept surfing at the highest level, even securing two finals appearances at the Mavericks Big Wave events in Half Moon Bay. Despite shutting the doors at Santa Cruz Waves a few years ago, Fox has continued to stay busy as an activist, entrepreneur, and businessman. He got hitched, built a tiny home, and adopted a sweet pooch, proving that success can be found outside the glamour of professional surfing.  In this episode of the Split Peak Soup Podcast, I was fortunate to have Fox come by the pad to discuss life— growing up in Aptos, giving professional surfing a fair shake, falling in love with big waves, the formation of Santa Cruz Waves, meeting his wife, as well as the ways in which he keeps his body and mind in tip-top condition. We also touched on the wave of up-and-coming surfers in the area and his involvement in the Santa Cruz Boardriders Club. It was another juicy chat, and I consider myself lucky to have had the opportunity to pick his mind. So, quit wasting time! Another flavorful serving of Split Peak Soup is just a click away!

    1h 21m
  6. Split Peak Soup Podcast Episode 12-- Kyle Thiermann

    12/24/2025

    Split Peak Soup Podcast Episode 12-- Kyle Thiermann

    Send a text Think about all the conversations you have throughout the course of the day. Unless you were at silent meditation retreat or alone in some remote, off-grid location, it’s safe to say you made contact with, and interacted with, a number of other individuals. How many of these encounters yielded anything deeper than a customary greeting or surface level life, love, health, or happiness update? Conversations such as these have utility, but leave a lot of meat on the bone. So what? It’s not like we are trying to learn the mail-man’s deepest, darkest, fears, but according to local writer, podcaster, and big-wave surfer Kyle Thiermann, there are some relationships in our lives that would benefit from some more carefully cultivated conversations. Namely, our parents.  In his book, “One Last Question Before You Go,” Thiermann points to the interview as a container, one where clear questions can get pointed answers in a distinct atmosphere, one free of distraction where no subject is off the table. The idea for the book arose after he had his father, Eric, on as a guest on his podcast. He was so blown away by the amount of things that he learned in that discussion that he decided to devote a few years of his life to explore this theme in-depth. As Thiermann’s friend, and a fellow writer, I was thrilled to have the young author over for this latest serving of Split Peak Soup. Our discussion touched on the origins of his book, the merits of the “interview”, things he learned about his parents along the way, his writing process, getting published, his book tour, and a whole lot more.  Thiermann is a bright guy, and his enthusiasm for his craft and curiosity towards life made him a superb guest.  Enjoy!

    1h 13m
  7. Split Peak Soup Podcast Episode 11-- Michel Junod

    12/17/2025

    Split Peak Soup Podcast Episode 11-- Michel Junod

    Send a text There is sometimes an unflattering, and often undeserved, stereotype of older surfboard shapers: that they are cantankerous and jaded old grumps limping through their shaping bays like lame prize horses, their brains frazzled from long-term exposure to hazardous resin, foam and fiberglass (that, or from all the acid they dropped in the ’60s and ’70s). Seventy-six year-old boardmaker and longboarder Michel Junod is none of that. He’s robust, clever, grateful and just plain stoked on life, even in the face of a market that is primarily focused on brand name, mass-produced shortboards and fishes. He has a winning business model—making people happy—that’s worked for him for nearly six decades. “People are stoked when they get a custom surfboard,” Junod says. “I’m known as a guy you can come to for a fun, custom board.” In this episode of the Split Peak Soup Podcast, I had the pleasure to sit down with this humble craftsman for an extended chat about his experience building surfboards.  In the interview, we touched on a number of of topics, ranging from his humble beginnings as a beach rat in Santa Monica, introduction to shaping by surf icon Carl “Tinker” West, his time spent honing his craft in Santa Cruz and the North Shore of Oahu, the value of a working relationship with a custom surfboard builder, and the challenges of surfing into old age. We also discussed his move to Arizona in 2021, and how he’s been able to continue operating his business hundreds of miles away from the Pacific Ocean.  It was a real treat sitting down with Junod, a longtime friend and true legend of surfing. So, what are you waiting for? Grab a snack, get cozy, and prepare for another nutritious serving of SPLIT PEAK SOUP!!!!!

    1h 13m
  8. Split Peak Soup Episode 10--Shaun Burns

    11/17/2025

    Split Peak Soup Episode 10--Shaun Burns

    Send a text Santa Cruz, California is well-known throughout the world as a surfing mecca. From iconic waves such as Steamer Lane and Pleasure Point, to surfing royalty such as Peter Mel and Nat Young, our town lives and breathes surfing. With such a reputation, surfers come from far and wide to live in and visit this gem of a surfing destination, bringing in valuable funds that greatly benefit the local economy. While surfing's impact to the livelihood of Santa Cruz has been long been understood, it's never been precisely quantified. Until now. Shaun Burns, along with Save the Waves Coalition, recently presented an economic study that determined that surfing brings in an annual $194.7 million dollars a year to the city of Santa Cruz. As Save the Waves reserve network coordinator, Burns has been tasked to present this groundbreaking study to the public. The study, which combined local expert knowledge, visitor data and economic modeling to come up with it's estimate, will be vital for the City of Santa Cruz moving forward, as it decides on measures needed to be taken to preserve this incredible natural resource. In this episode, Shaun and I discuss the study, including some of the problems facing Santa Cruz's many surf breaks, such as erosion and sea-level rise. We also touch on growing up in Santa Cruz, the East Side/ West Side rivalry, professional surfing, his sponsorship and work as Event Planner with O'Neill, life as a father and husband, and much more. Shaun is a class act, and someone I respect immensely. It was a pleasure to have him on the show and I can't wait to see what comes next for this well-spoken young man.  EAT YOUR SOUP!

    1h 18m
See All (17)

Ratings & Reviews

About

Welcome to Split Peak Soup Podcast! I’m your host, Neal Kearney. I feel very blessed to have been born and raised here in Santa Cruz, California. Santa Cruz is a hotbed for talented individuals, including, but not limited to: professional surfers and skaters, master surfboard shapers, internationally renowned artists, expert musicians, boundary pushing intellectual thinkers, and out-of-this-world explorers of consciousness.  Working as a professional journalist for the past twenty-plus years, I’ve had the opportunity to sit down with these extraordinary humans and in-depth and insightful chats. While these discussions have helped inform many written pieces that I’m proud of, I oftentimes felt that I was leaving a lot of meat left on the bone, as the few quotes I’d incorporate into my writing oftentimes seemed to strip my interviewees of their own authentic voices. Luckily, we are entering a brave new world, where the podcast has risen as a popular form of storytelling and media consumption. From Joe Rogan to Conan O’Brien, podcasters have officially taken over. And now, I’m joining the fray. The Split Peak Soup Podcast is my way of using my skills as a story-teller to offer long format conversations with those whose stories deserve to be told. So, what are you waiting for? Pull up a cozy chair, grab a napkin and your favorite spoon, and get ready to dig into another savory serving of Split Peak Soup!

Information

  • Creator
    Neal Kearney
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    17
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Split Peak Soup
  • Show Website
    Split Peak Soup