Dropping In to Power: Personal stories of the transformational power of surfing from women of all levels, all ages, all over‪.‬ Sheila Gallien

REWIND TIME! Two and a half years ago, I paddled through an impact zone of technophobia, stagefright, and impostor syndrome to launch an experiment called the Dropping In To Power podcast. My question: Had other women's lives been transformed by surfing like mine had, and did they want to talk about it, and did anyone want to listen? Yes, yes, and yes, it turns out.
It also turns out, that transformation is never-ending.  I looked at the calendar today, and realized that more than 3 months have passed since my last podcast!
The reason is simple. I've been hypnotized. 
And, hypnotizing. 
I have touched on this in the podcast over the last months, and now it is real! I have just launched my hypnotherapy practice, which I love so much that the unthinkable has happened. I actually forgetting to surf. 
Kind of.
I'm so into what I'm learning, and doing, that I miss the window, and instead, spend time mind-surfing, and studying how hypnosis can enhance surfing - in performance and potential, in removing blocks, and in supporting mental health.  The next podcast, in fact, will be a lesson in self-hypnosis, and how you can apply these tools to improve your own surfing.
I may then do some live sessions, or more storytime, who knows? We'll see what you think!
In the meantime, the stories are so alive! I want to reshare some of the most popular episodes of Dropping In, starting with the fearless, incomparable, Aurelie, who trusted me even though I had absolutely no idea what I was doing. Until we started.
Aurélie is so vulnerable, fearless and funny - and I am forever grateful for her trusting her stories to a person who had NEVER done an interview before! If you missed this episode, you will love her. If you already love her, well, here you go! And you might also notice how far women's surfing has come in just this short time.
More info on hypnotherapy sessions: www.droppingintopower.com or email sheilagallien@gmail.com.
ORIGINAL EPISODE NOTES: My very first guest is Aurélie Madec, a born storyteller with a divine accent. Aurélie is a teacher, surfer, and mother, who sculpted her career and life around her passion for surfing.  In our conversation, she shares many pieces of her life, from her pioneering grandmother, having to save pocket money for her first board, traveling the whole world to surf, being a part of Surfing Mums in Australia, transitioning from cold water to warm and back to cold again. She also reveals her favorite surf spots on earth, how she has navigated serious injury, some deep surf wisdom, and the thrill of bringing the healing power of surfing to others. Now based in Cornwall, she volunteers locally with a surf therapy charity, https://www.waveproject.co.uk/ 
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"Auntie Mo"   - Maureen McNamara - Maine

On Halloween of 2023, when Surfline shared her (now viral) video, we fell in love with a salty New England surfer hurling clean insults and sage advice to an offending “whippasnappa” in the lineup. “Auntie Mo” barreled into our hearts and has since graced our feeds with her elixir of deep surf knowledge, self-deprecating humor, and truly helpful surf (and life) tips embedded in gentle ribbing. Talking to the "the whole Mo," I discovered that “Auntie Mo” is a character she created to manage her own grumpiness about the bulging surf scene and her body’s refusal to act like a grom. For the usual flow of this podcast, Mo’s story is in reverse. An accomplished surfer since youth, she is learning to bring a beginner’s stoke back to her surfing as her ability declines. The whole Mo does not disappoint! She is brilliant, compassionate, articulate, thoughtful, kind, and funny. She is also an incredible talent - writer, photographer, shaper, triathlete, and storyteller. You may be surprised to hear the accent slip away, but the heart and soul of “Auntie Mo” shine through every moment in our interview as she espouses her ultimate mission:  "Share the stoke, and spread the stoke.” But heart-forward as she is, she is no shrinking violet. She has plenty to say about how contests temporarily killed surfboard innovation, why so many people are still riding the wrong boards, and why surfers need to play not just the big notes, but the long ones. 
@waterwoman74 on IG
Waterwomanphotography on fB
Links to the Surfline posts - 
The one that started it all:  https://www.instagram.com/reel/CywQqHQxAz8/?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==
Wetsuit Truth Bombhttps://www.instagram.com/reel/Czy2tQAREHq/?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==
Video we reference that the journalist shot and Surfline edited:https://www.instagram.com/reel/C09qJLmRHSx/?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==
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“Moments before drowning, she became the sea.” - Mermaid’s Lament
In this episode, we temporarily ditch our surfboards and plunge into the raw power of the ocean, its intersection with salvation, and creativity. I talk with the director and stars of Mermaid’s Lament, a film about trauma, grief, resilience, imagination and…mermaids! Shot entirely on the island of Hawaii with a regional cast and crew, director GB Hajim has created, in his words, “a love letter to all people who find peace in the ocean.” Stars Dayva Summer Escobar and Justina Mattos share their stories of breath-holding, fire-breathing, reef-harrowing ocean stunts, the surreal experience of being surrounded by dozens of mermaids, the development of trust, and the power of risk. We dig into the heart of art, and I couldn’t help but feeling, as we talked, that perhaps this surge in women’s surfing, and women’s community, is its own art form. As Dayva says, “Our job as human beings is to tell stories and share experiences that make everybody else feel less alone.” And, in surfing, art, and life, may we all follow GB’s advice, “Go out there and fail wondrously.” Listen and enjoy the passion and brilliance of these deeply authentic artists and if you are on the island, don’t miss it on the big screen!
11/17, 7pm, Hilo Palace Theater Tickets: https://ticketing.uswest.veezi.com/purchase/716?siteToken=gm8khysj2xp8q7h501dqxk57cg
Silent Auction of Movie Memorabilia to benefit the Palace: https://givebutter.com/c/mermaidslament/auction
11/25, 7pm, Aloha Theatre Tickets: https://prod5.agileticketing.net/websales/pages/info.aspx?evtinfo=347091
12/15, 5:30pm Honoka'a People's Theater: TBA
@mermaidslament
Mentions @sharksofhawaii, @oneoceandiving

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Para surfer Victoria Feige, the winningest female adaptive surfer on record, unveils her inner nerd and offers us a breakthrough that will rock your world: a simple, visual explanation of the mechanics of the DUCK DIVE and WAVE MECHANICS. I promise, you will have an AHA moment! At heart, beyond her injury, Victoria is just a girl who LOVES to surf and has thought a LOT about it (and a lot of other things). Our convo touches on how hands make us human, how resilience informs grit, how neuroscience is sexy (isn’t it, though?) Trained as a physiotherapist who has been both a patient and a clinician, Victoria’s knowledge of the brain and body informs her mission to follow her joy.  Her observation that many of us are born with bodies or challenges we didn’t choose makes her approach to surfing, and life, universal. She also has fantastic advice for would-be adaptive surfers on equipment and wetsuits, available on her site, victoriafeigesurfing.com (I say it wrong in the podcast!) Listen to Victoria!

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For more info on Victoria’s story, see these two articles.


https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/article-paralympic-surfer-victoria-feige-knows-how-to-be-strong-in-the-water/
https://www.buttermag.io/surf/victoria-feige/


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🏄‍♀️“Surfing well with a smile is the best revenge.” Mindy Pennybacker 🏄‍♀️  Mindy Pennybacker, lifelong soul surfer, author, journalist, and surf columnist for the Honolulu Star-Advertiser, just released the gorgeous tome, Surfing Sisterhood Hawaii, a history, celebration, and, really, guidebook for how women have ruled and can rule the waves! Her axiom, “Our place is in the waves,"  leaps off of every page, a celebration of ordinary and extraordinary women surfers with a shared love of surfing. Mindy’s personal story spans the whole saga of women elbowing their way onto waves from Gidget to today, and glorious moments in between the jostling. Mindy jokingly calls herself a “brain in a jar,” which is accurate only in reference to her intelligence and wit. In this episode, we cover a lot of ground! She recounts tales of the great Hawaiian surf goddesses who were revered, and coveted, for their prowess. The struggle with body image and sense of self, even with the most accomplished women surfers, like Carissa Moore (whom she interviewed twice for her book). She digs into the gender wars in the lineup, with brilliant solutions for the onslaught of the three invaders: hotshots, visitors and groms. We delve into what it was like growing up in Hawaii in the surf scene of the 60s and 70s, the Tonng’s gang of boys who encouraged and protected her, being marginalized, alternately dropped in on and mentored by famous watermen, being nearly beaten up, and being cheered. What else? Pro surfing, friendships, harrowing moments, pioneers, life. And, being accidentally barreled. Mindy talked to countless women, famous and not, for her book. Their stories are now woven into hers, and ours. Don’t miss this episode! 
Buy the book: https://mutualpublishing.com/product/surfing-sisterhood-hawaii/

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Other references:
Surf Girls Hawaii on Amazon Prime
Important movies about the history of Hawaiian surf (though NOT women’s surf)
Hawaiian: The Legend of Eddie Aikau
Waterman (The story of Duke Kahanomoku)
 
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One of the joys of women flocking to the water is how we are learning to cheer for one another. (I know, some of us, ahem, are still working on this on particular days and in particular conditions.) This is NOT something we are raised with, cheering for other women, especially successful ones. We come up against our own competitive feelings (no one should be smart, pretty AND talented), as well as the constant messaging that women athletes are "less than" by the misogynist (yes, I said it) sports industry. I got extra fired up about the inequities still in action for pro women surfers while listening to the last two episodes of The Double Up podcast, about the attempt to keep women from winning prize money, the ensuing coup spontaneously launched by pro Lucy Small (yas, girl!) and, then...the fallout. More than anything, I want to inspire us to watch and support women's pro surfing! In this episode, I walk through the whys, and also the HOW'S of watching women in the World Surf League. Let's get our girls!
Show Notes:
Listen to The Double Up Episodes 54 & 55 about the Kirra Longboard Classic
Links to my 7-part series on Why (And How) to Watch Women's Surfing in the Olympics (principles apply to all pro women's surfing)
Watch at worldsurfleague.com website and app, on Facebook, and on YouTube
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IG @dropping_in_to_power
🏄‍♀️💜 Never miss an episode! Stay up to date with Dropping In To Power Podcast and (when I finally get back in the swing-- a love poem from the ocean) - Sign up for the Substack here.💜🏄‍♀️

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