Split Peak Soup

Neal Kearney

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. 1d ago

    Split Peak Soup Podcast Episode 26--Kyle Buthman

    Send us Fan Mail Like most young surfers growing up in Santa Cruz, California, Kyle Buthman had his eyes set on becoming a professional surfer. Not only did he have perfect waves in his backyard and tons of talented peers to push his performance, he had access to a variety of action packed surf films to study before and after his sessions. The 1990’s were a peak era in terms of surf media production, and while guys like Kelly Slater and Rob Machado were showing the world what was possible in films produced by Taylor Steele, we had a fair share of videographers bringing the goods locally, as well. Tony Roberts, Chris Klopf, Josh Pomer, and Graham Nash all put out a number of iconic surf films during Buthman’s rise as an amateur surfer, and he studied them endlessly. What was so impactful for the young surfer was the fact that not only could he watch someone like Peter Mel rip waves at Steamer Lane, he could go out there and join him afterwards As fate would have it, after an injury to his Achilles Tendon at age 14, Buthman found himself behind the lens. To kill the boredom during his recovery, and to keep himself close to the action he was missing out on, the talented regular footer grabbed the family handycam and posted up at the waters edge, capturing the explosive surfing taking place in and around Pleasure Point. He put all the footage together in a short edit, entitled, “Trix are 4 Kids,” and never looked back. While he never made it big as a pro surfer, Buthman was able to enjoy sponsorships enabled him to travel the world, and he always brought his camera along with him. He leveraged his relationship with Quiksilver to get access to their fabled accommodations on Oahu’s North Shore, where he produced edits featuring their team riders. Before long, his talent behind the lens established him as an elite storyteller, eventuating in his “Get Rad” trilogy, and other notable productions, such as “Tattle Tales”, and his “Brain Works” series. In this podcast, Buthman and I chatted about how his surf-centric work evolved into a career that veered into unfamiliar territory, such as the UFC and professional competitive gaming, also known as Esports. We also touched on his love life, affinity for Mainland Mexico and alternative surfboards, the challenge and rewards of shooting from the water, and how he deals with missing out on epic sessions when traveling for paid shoots. Buthman and I go way back, and it was a pleasure getting to shoot the shit with one of the most heavily barreled surf videographers on Earth.  Dig in!

    Split Peak Soup Podcast Episode 26--Kyle Buthman

  2. Jul 25

    Split Peak Soup Podcast Episode 25--Neftali Espino

    Send us Fan Mail Every once in a while you meet someone who is so unique and far from ordinary that they leave an indelible mark in your memory. Neftali Espino of Davenport, California, is one such character. Known to his friends simply as "Nef", this kind hearted board builder has been busy making a name for himself as a skilled craftsman and relentless workhorse over the past twenty years. Not only that, he's a  community driven environmentalist and proud father who's kept his head held high after losing it all. Born in La Morada, California, Nef is the son of Mexican immigrants who chose to leave Baja California to make a better life for their children. He was introduced to surfing after cutting his teeth on his skateboard and found community and purpose in the beach lifestyle. It wasn't long before he migrated to Huntington Beach, and then San Clemente. It was there that the Homegrown Surfboards brand was born. He was shown the ropes by a few local shapers and it wasn't long until he brought his rapidly evolving act north, to Santa Cruz. While admittedly veering off the track multiple times due to hard partying, Nef never let his love for shaping surfboards die. He's bounced back from horrific tragedy with the loss of his son and, years later, his home and shaping room during the CZU Lightning Complex Fires of 2020. Since then, he's put down the booze and narrowed his focus with his board building and ding repair work. He's shaped boards for a who's who of local talent, including Anthony Ruffo, Zealand Hunter, Julian Sekon, Jesse Colombo, and Austin Smith Ford, just to name a few. He's also a staunch advocate for environmentalism, and uses his powerful social media reach to document his efforts cleaning up the beaches and roads in and around Santa Cruz. In this podcast, we talk about his efforts to bring awareness to pollution, his evolution as a shaper, the fire that took everything he owned, his love for music, his wide circle of friends, his unique shop overlooking the coast off Davenport, and much, much, more. What are you waiting for? Time to dig into the newest serving of Split Peak Soup!

    Split Peak Soup Podcast Episode 25--Neftali Espino

  3. Jul 9

    Split Peak Soup Podcast Episode 24--Mark "Munster" Taylor

    Send us Fan Mail As a kid growing up in Santa Cruz with dreams of becoming a professional surfer, there were tons of local surf events to enter where I could sharpen my skills and get used to surfing against the best kids in the area with a contest singlet on. Out of all of them, however, there were none I looked forward to more than the Volcom Greatwhite Surf Series events, which were part of Volcom’s Totally Crustaceous Tour.  The tour, which started in the late 90’s, was Volcom’s effort to bring fun and free surf contests for all ages to beaches across the world. They were laid back gatherings that rewarded progressive surfing, shelling out cold, hard cash for the Pro division, and boatloads of insane prizes for the kids. I even won a complete Burton snowboard set up when I was fourteen! The greatest prize I won at these events, however, was a lifelong friendship with the contest director, Mark “Munster” Taylor, a former pro and one of the original Volcom team riders. As Taylor came of age in the 1980’s he formed friendships with Santa Cruz rippers from all sides of town: Adam Replogle, Nate and Zack Acker, Shawn “Barney” Barron, Osh “Frog” Bartlett and the late Jeff Lansing, just to name a few. His powerful brand of backside surfing gained him respectable contest results and sponsorships with brands such as O’Neill, Billabong, and later, Volcom. As he aged out of professional surfing, Taylor, along with putting on the Volcom comps, established a name for himself as a skilled carpenter. Years later, after getting married and bringing a daughter into the world, he leveraged his experience growing marijuana to start a weed brand, 3Bros, with Tyler and Russel Smith.  In this latest episode of the Split Peak Soup Podcast, Taylor and I discussed a wide range of topics, including his love for growing weed, the importance of respect in a lineup, bridging the East/Westside gap, fatherhood, buying a home in Costa Rica, and much more. We also touched upon his weight loss journey and spiritual rebirth in recent years. It was an honor to have such a beautiful soul on the podcast and it would be an honor if you could give it a listen.

    Split Peak Soup Podcast Episode 24--Mark "Munster" Taylor

  4. Jun 24

    Split Peak Soup Podcast Episode 23--Isla Hardy

    Send us Fan Mail Fifteen year-old surf phenomenon Isla Hardy is one of Santa Cruz’s next great hopes. This regular foot ripper burst on the scene a few years ago as a pint-sized grommet and has experienced impressive growth as both a human and surfer ever since. She’s well known for her positive attitude and bright smile and respected in the surf world for her precise rail game and futuristic aerial antics. She’s also a competitive animal, boasting a number of National Titles and a trophy collection that could, at this point, fill a storage container. Not only that, she’s well-spoken, articulate, and outgoing. She’s got a strong work ethic and regularly shoots with legendary local photographers such as Dave “Nelly” Nelson, who just so happens to be a close family friend. As if all that weren’t enough, she’s a true student of the game, working with competitive masterminds such as Matt Myers and Nat Young to help her achieve her goals of competing on the Championship Tour and winning a gold medal in Olympic surfing. Lately, she’s been on a freakin’ tear! Not long after signing with Billabong, Hardy took first place in the Vans Ladybirds division at the Stab High event in Virginia Beach, earning herself a cool $5,000 and tons of respect. It was her third time competing in the invitational wave pool event, one that has a simple format—launch the craziest airs possible and walk away victorious. Both developments are huge for the youngster and will undoubtably elevate her profile in an increasingly talent saturated surf world. It would be an understatement to say I was thrilled to have young Isla on the latest episode of the Split Peak Soup Podcast! In our chat we discussed her surfing origins, competitive drive, relationship with wave pools, and preferred heat strategy, along with her tight-knit surf squad, beach loving fam, international travels, and experience representing her town as a member of the Santa Cruz Board Riders Club. She also gave me the lowdown on her breakthrough win at the Stab High event, and how she’s giving back with her work with Stand Up to Cancer. Enjoy this wide-ranging chat with yet-another charismatic guest on the Split Peak Soup Podcast!

    Split Peak Soup Podcast Episode 23--Isla Hardy

  5. Jun 13

    Split Peak Soup Podcast Episode 22--Adam Replogle

    Send us Fan Mail Growing up on Pleasure Point, I had no shortage of excellent surfers to look up to. There’s something special in the water off those fabled bluffs that molds such stylish, smooth, and powerful surfers—one’s who can measure up against worlds best on any given day. Chris Gallagher, Kieran Horn, Bud Freitas…the list goes on and on. In my eyes, however, there’s one local hero that stands out above them all—Adam Replogle. Adam’s poise and presence in the water has influenced countless groms growing up on the Point, and he always brings humor and positivity into every interaction. Adam has had a rich, action-packed life so far. From the early days in Capitola, sponsorship and brotherhood surfing Pleasure Point as a teen, life as a traveling professional surfer, to embracing life his current life as a father and business owner. I was thrilled to have Adam on the Split Peak Soup Podcast. It’s not everyday that you get to interview one of your heroes. During our chat, we got into all sorts of juicy topics, from his opinions on modern pro surfing, wave pools, slanging surfboards at Your Board Quality Surfboards, the pros and cons of living in Santa Cruz, to how he avoided succumbing to the drug abuse that caught up many in his tight knit circle. Time to bust out that crusty bib, cause it’s time for another tasty serving of Split Peak Soup!

    Split Peak Soup Podcast Episode 22--Adam Replogle

  6. May 28

    Split Peak Soup Podcast Episode 21--Sandro "Batata" Santiago

    Send us Fan Mail Sandro “Batata” Santiago has devoted his life to his two passions—surfing and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. As a sixth degree black belt in Jiu Jitsu, he’s put endless hours into perfecting his technique and has the world titles to prove it. It’s also provided himself a livelihood, with his Batata Jiu Jitsu Academy on Santa Cruz’s Westside gaining popularity as a place where individuals with discipline and grit can learn how to defend themselves in sketchy situations. Born and raised on the beaches of Barra Tijuca in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, Batata decided early on to pursue competitive martial arts over surfing, starting with Judo, then Muay Thai, and finally landing on Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Success came quickly, and before long he was winning competitions and gaining sponsors for his efforts. He also grew up hoping to one day travel to the United States and surf Steamer Lane, home of the Coldwater Classic.  Around the turn of the last century, Batata finally got his chance. After moving to California, he fell in love with the iconic right-hand point break on Santa Cruz’s Westside. For the past twenty-five plus years, he’s been a fixture at the Lane, and is well known by the community for his bright wetsuits and consistent presence in the lineup. On Saturday, May 2nd, the fifty-one year-old regular foot found himself in the type of situations that he prepares his students for. After jumping in the water around 7:00 AM, he greeted a group of surfers and exchanged pleasantries. One of the gentlemen asked if Batata recognized him.  When he apologized and said he didn’t, the unidentified man aggressively confronted him over a disagreement they’d had in the water weeks earlier. Despite his efforts to diffuse the situation, Batata was violently attacked by the man, who threw a volley of punches at his face, even trying to hold him under water. Feeling threatened, Batata paddled to shore, with his attacker hot on his heels. What unfolded next was captured by Steamer Lane’s Surfline cameras and went viral online in the days to come. The video captures Batata skillfully subduing his attacker, moving with lightening speed to neutralize the much larger man. Instead of throwing punches, he simply wrapped the man up and asked him to apologize.  While most surfers who know Batata applauded his actions, many keyboard warriors online did not. This episode of Split Peak Soup served as an opportunity for the man to tell his side of the story, including his upbringing, why he got involved in martial arts in the first place, the importance of good surf etiquette, and how he hopes people, including his aggressor, can learn from the incident.

    Split Peak Soup Podcast Episode 21--Sandro "Batata" Santiago

  7. May 18

    Split Peak Soup Podcast Episode 20--Nat Young

    Send us Fan Mail Modern day competitive surfing is not for the faint of heart. For starters, you're dealing with the many moods and faces of an unpredictable ocean, where simply having a quality wave come your way requires a tremendous amount of luck.  Then, if you are fortunate enough to snag that diamond in the rough during your heat, you have to convince a panel of finicky judges that what you're bringing to the table is deserving of a high score. Add in an endless supply of hungry opponents from around the globe, and you've got yourself one Hell of an uphill battle. One man who's beaten all the odds of finding success on the World Surf League is Santa Cruz's own, Nat Young. Born and bred on the West Side, Young devoted his entire life to becoming a professional surfer, and with the endless support of his mom Rosie, he made his dreams come true. From NSSA Nationals to the O'Neill Coldwater Classic, Young's obsession with competitive surfing brought him the highest accolades at an early age. This grit and determination brought him lucrative high-profile sponsorships and extensive world travels before graduating High School, ultimately leading to seven years on the World Surf League’s Championsip Tour.  Despite two 2nd place results in Fiji and Portugal, Young never took a CT win, but he did gain the respect and admiration of both his fellow competitors and fans at home and across the world. However, after falling off tour, starting a family and enduring some close decisions in a bid to requalify in 2024, he decided to hang up the towel. In this episode of the Split Peak Soup Podcast, I got to check in with the powerful goofy footer, who since retiring, has been busy raising his two children, Rockie and Owen, entering the competitive world of real estate, and even coaching some young local talent. We discussed all this, including his mother's role in shaping his success, social media, crowds, the Santa Cruz Boardriders Club, and much more.   Eat Your Soup!!!

    Split Peak Soup Podcast Episode 20--Nat Young

  8. May 4

    Split Peak Soup Podcast Episode 19-- Anthony Ruffo

    Send us Fan Mail There are few places in the world of surf that have left an impact as powerful as Santa Cruz, California. From big-wave legends such as Richard Schmidt and Peter Mel, aerial pioneers Shawn “Barney” Barron and Jason “Ratboy” Collins, to competitive animals of the likes of Chris Gallagher and Nat Young, our areas standouts have left an indelible mark. One man who’s been there for it all is Westside legend Anthony Ruffo. Ruffo rose to prominence after winning the first professional surf event at Steamer Lane in 1985, the Hotline Lighthouse Santa Cruz Classic, which would later become the O’Neill Coldwater Classic. Ruffo cemented his place as one of the upcoming Santa Cruz pros in the 80’s and 90’s with his polished and dynamic backside attack.  He charged in Hawaii, didn’t shy away from lofty punts, and even dipped his toes in the heavy, hallowed waters of Mavericks in Half Moon Bay. He ran with the raucous rat pack of progressive Santa Cruz shredders, who gained widespread media coverage, worldwide respect, and a dash of infamy for their rockstar antics. However, the fun didn’t last for this tight-knit crew, and when the darkness descended, Ruffo found himself in the center of the cyclone. Addiction, jail time, and reintegration followed. While most converted cons can talk the talk, Ruffo truly walked the walk, giving back to the world with his dedicated volunteer work with wholesome operations such as Operation Surf, who share the healing power of surfing with wounded vets, as well as the Maui Ola Foundation, who do the same with children suffering from Cystic Fibrosis. It was a true honor to have Ruffo on the Split Peak Podcast. We chatted about his childhood, friendship with surfing heavies Vince Collier and Peter Davi, worldwide travels with the SC crew, the dark days of drugs in Santa Cruz, and his inspiring path forward after serving time for his crimes. We also discussed his involvement in the Santa Cruz Board Riders Club, and how the club has really brought Santa Cruz surfers together as a cohesive pack once again. I hope you enjoy this tasty serving of Split Peak Soup!!

    Split Peak Soup Podcast Episode 19-- Anthony Ruffo
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

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
    26
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Split Peak Soup
  • Show Website
    Split Peak Soup

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