The Lineup with Dave Prodan - A Surfing Podcast

EP 256: Isabella Nichols & Jakob Gjerluff Ager – Nordborn, Returning to her Danish roots, Wave and air temperatures in cold-water, The meaning of hygge, Off-season, Expectations, & Carissa and Steph returning to the tour

Dave sits down with WSL Championship Tour standout Isabella Nichols and filmmaker/photographer Jakob Gjerluff Ager to dive into their new film Nordborn, a cinematic ode to Isabella’s Danish heritage and the quiet strength found in cold-water surfing. Fresh off a season of heavy travel, Isabella reflects on a year that pushed her physically and emotionally, and how reconnecting with her family’s lineage opened unexpected creative and personal doors. She shares how Denmark went from a childhood holiday destination to the emotional anchor of a new project, one that helped her explore identity, belonging, and the feeling of “hygge” that shaped the film’s tone. Jakob breaks down the creative process behind capturing the stark, soulful beauty of the North Atlantic, why he was drawn to telling Isabella’s story, and how their shared cultural ties shaped the visual language of Nordborn. Together, they talk about bringing a non-traditional surf landscape to life, blending family history with modern surf performance, and the unexpected magic of cold-water lineups. The trio also dives into the contrasts between tour life and creative life, navigating career pivots, the importance of place and community, and how storytelling can reshape the way we see surfing and surfers. Learn more about Isabella here [https://www.worldsurfleague.com/athletes/4307/isabella-nichols?utm_source=lineup&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=256-isabella-nichols-jakob-ager] and follow her here [https://www.instagram.com/isabella_nichols?utm_source=lineup&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=256-isabella-nichols-jakob-ager]. Learn more about Jakob Gjerluff Ager here [https://www.gjerluff.com/?utm_source=lineup&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=256-isabella-nichols-jakob-ager] and follow him here [https://www.instagram.com/gjerluff/?utm_source=lineup&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=256-isabella-nichols-jakob-ager]. Watch their film Nordborn [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9kBFVjNZk5w&utm_source=lineup&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=256-isabella-nichols-jakob-ager] here! Big Wave Season window is right around the corner! Stay tuned November 1st, 2025 - March 31st, 2026. Get the latest merch at the WSL Store [https://www.wslstore.com/?utm_source=lineup&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=256-isabella-nichols-jakob-ager]! Join the conversation by following The Lineup [https://www.instagram.com/thelineuppod?utm_source=lineup&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=256-isabella-nichols-jakob-ager] podcast with Dave Prodan [https://www.instagram.com/daveprodan?utm_source=lineup&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=256-isabella-nichols-jakob-ager] on Instagram and subscribing to our YouTube channel. [https://www.youtube.com/wsl?utm_source=lineup&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=256-isabella-nichols-jakob-ager] Get the latest WSL rankings, news, and event info. [https://www.worldsurfleague.com?utm_source=lineup&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=256-isabella-nichols-jakob-ager] **Visit this page if you’ve been affected by the Los Angeles wildfires, and would like to volunteer or donate. [https://www.worldsurfleague.com/posts/538388/losangelesfirerelief?utm_source=lineup&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=256-isabella-nichols-jakob-ager] Our hearts are with  you.** Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

EP 255: Morgane Herculano – High diving in an abandoned mine, Finishing top 5 in the world, Going from free education in Switzerland to $80k per year at Harvard, Redefining fear & focus, Finding opportunity in social media, and NCAA NIL ban

Morgane Herculano is a professional high diver, Harvard graduate, and one of the most fascinating athletes you’ve never heard of. Born and raised in Switzerland, Morgane turned a love of flips at her local pool into a global career, diving from cliffs and platforms towering nearly 60 feet above the water. Now based between Boston and Montreal, she joins The Lineup fresh off a season that took her from Japan to Iceland to Italy, competing across the world in conditions that test not just athletic precision but nerve, adaptability, and trust in yourself. Morgane opens up about the mental side of diving with the fear never really goes away, what it means to balance intellect and adrenaline, and how social media has created new ways for niche athletes to make a living. She reflects on her journey from traditional diving to the extreme world of high diving, the challenges of growing up as the oldest of five in Switzerland, and earning her spot at Harvard without an athletic scholarship. She discusses how the NCAA NIL law changed the game for college athletes' opportunity to earn income, the unique camaraderie within the cliff diving community, and the accomplishment of a top-five World Cup finish in 2025. Learn more about Morgane here [https://www.forbes.com/sites/andyfrye/2024/06/05/harvard-to-high-diving-morgane-herculanos-awesome-jump/?utm_source=lineup&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=255-morgane-herculano] and follow her here [https://www.instagram.com/morgane.hrc?utm_source=lineup&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=255-morgane-herculano]. Catch the highlights from the Surf Abu Dhabi Longboard Classic, Oct 24 - 26 [https://www.worldsurfleague.com/events/2025/lt/350/surf-abu-dhabi-longboard-classic/main]. Stay tuned to the Surf City El Salvador Longboard Championships, Nov 5 - 9. Big Wave Season window is right around the corner! Stay tuned November 1st, 2025 - March 31st, 2026. Get the latest merch at the WSL Store [https://www.wslstore.com/?utm_source=lineup&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=255-morgane-herculano]! Join the conversation by following The Lineup [https://www.instagram.com/thelineuppod?utm_source=lineup&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=255-morgane-herculano] podcast with Dave Prodan [https://www.instagram.com/daveprodan?utm_source=lineup&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=255-morgane-herculano] on Instagram and subscribing to our YouTube channel. [https://www.youtube.com/wsl?utm_source=lineup&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=255-morgane-herculano] Get the latest WSL rankings, news, and event info. [https://www.worldsurfleague.com?utm_source=lineup&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=255-morgane-herculano] **Visit this page if you’ve been affected by the Los Angeles wildfires, and would like to volunteer or donate. [https://www.worldsurfleague.com/posts/538388/losangelesfirerelief?utm_source=lineup&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=255-morgane-herculano] Our hearts are with  you.** Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

EP 254: Nic von Rupp – From Nazaré to The Eddie, QS Days, His pioneers and peers in big wave surfing, German/Swiss/Portuguese upbringing, State of the industry, Should we pay groms?, and Von Froth

Nic von Rupp joins The Lineup with Dave Prodan as he prepares for another Big Wave season, coming off one where he earned the 2025 Best Team Performance Award and added to his growing legend as one of big wave surfing’s most complete athletes. Calling in from home after a ten-foot barrel session, Nic reflects on how far his country and his career have come. From an era when it was “unthinkable” to be a professional surfer from Portugal to now representing his nation at The Eddie Aikau Invitational, Nic shares how Nazaré transformed not only global big wave surfing, but the identity of an entire coastline. He dives deep into his path from Nike and Monster-sponsored competitor to free surfer and filmmaker, why he walked away from chasing jerseys, and how the “Von Froth” persona came to life. Nic talks about chasing barrels at Mavericks and Jaws, pioneering sessions with Tom Lowe, and how his background in competition taught him the consistency and discipline to handle big days at home. Together with Dave, Nic discusses the state of the surf industry – from the rise of athlete-driven content to the decline of traditional surf sponsorship – and what he thinks the next generation of pros really needs. He also opens up about his creative process, balancing the froth with perspective, and how staying healthy and curious keeps him charging forward. Follow Nic here [https://www.instagram.com/nicvonrupp?utm_source=lineup&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=254-nic-von-rupp] and watch his YouTube series Von Froth here [https://www.youtube.com/@nicvonrupp1671/featured?utm_source=lineup&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=254-nic-von-rupp]. Check his podcast Von Froth Cast here [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g7z7pUl8dR4&list=PL7yruWr6tX7VZFuvr3O7_pHK88Uo_X2ff&utm_source=lineup&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=254-nic-von-rupp]! Learn more about his big wave project Mountains of the Sea and follow them here [https://www.instagram.com/mountainsofthesea/?utm_source=lineup&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=254-nic-von-rupp]. Stay tuned to the next stop on the Longboard Tour, the Surf Abu Dhabi Longboard Classic, Oct 24 - 26 [https://www.worldsurfleague.com/events/2025/lt/350/surf-abu-dhabi-longboard-classic/main?utm_source=lineup&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=254-nic-von-rupp]. Big Wave Season window starts November 1st, 2025 - March 31st, 2026. Get the latest merch at the WSL Store [https://www.wslstore.com/?utm_source=lineup&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=254-nic-von-rupp]! Join the conversation by following The Lineup [https://www.instagram.com/thelineuppod?utm_source=lineup&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=254-nic-von-rupp] podcast with Dave Prodan [https://www.instagram.com/daveprodan?utm_source=lineup&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=254-nic-von-rupp] on Instagram and subscribing to our YouTube channel. [https://www.youtube.com/wsl?utm_source=lineup&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=254-nic-von-rupp] Get the latest WSL rankings, news, and event info. [https://www.worldsurfleague.com?utm_source=lineup&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=254-nic-von-rupp] **Visit this page if you’ve been affected by the Los Angeles wildfires, and would like to volunteer or donate. [https://www.worldsurfleague.com/posts/538388/losangelesfirerelief?utm_source=lineup&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=254-nic-von-rupp] Our hearts are with  you.** Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

EP 253: Laura Crane – Prep for the 2025/26 Big Wave season, Working with Antonio Laureano, Nazaré, Overcoming injuries, Surf industry standards, Mental health, Dryrobe®, Finding purpose through Crane Surf Co., and Her biggest inspirations

Big-wave surfer and Dryrobe® ambassador Laura Crane joins the pod to talk about her rise at Nazaré, the power of resilience, and finding identity through the heaviest water on Earth. Fresh off her second full season in Portugal, Laura reflects on the highs of qualifying for the WSL Nazaré Tow Surfing Challenge and the lows of breaking her ankle during one of her sessions. She opens up about the rehab process, slowing down after years of intensity, and what she learned from navigating injury, recovery, and expectation. Laura shares how Nazaré has become her “classroom” over the past three years, training with Tony Laureano, and even stepping up to rescue her hero Maya Gabeira. She looks back on her journey from a 12-year-old national champion from Devon to a sponsored Billabong pro, and how the surf industry’s obsession with image left her battling mental health challenges and an eating disorder. Her story is one of rediscovery — trading modeling sets and TV screens for big waves, community, and purpose. Now, through her Crane Surf Co. ocean wellness retreats, Laura helps others harness fear as a tool for growth. She also pays tribute to the women who’ve inspired her – from Maya Gabeira, Justine Dupont, Michelle des Bouillons to the new generation of chargers redefining what’s possible in women’s surfing. Follow Laura here [https://www.instagram.com/lauraloucrane]. Book an ocean-based wellness retreat through her company Crane Surf Co [https://www.instagram.com/cranesurfco?utm_source=lineup&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=253-laura-crane&utm_content=dryrobe] – their next trip is a Maldives Boat Trip in August 2026. Check out our episode sponsor Dryrobe® at Dryrobe.com [https://dryrobe.com/?utm_source=lineup&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=253-laura-crane&utm_content=dryrobe] and follow them on Instagram here [https://www.instagram.com/dryrobe/?utm_source=lineup&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=253-laura-crane&utm_content=dryrobe]! Stay tuned to the next event on the Challenger Series, the Banco do Brasil Saquarema Pro Presened by Corona Cero, Oct 11 - 19 [https://www.worldsurfleague.com/events/2025/cs/347/banco-do-brasil-saquarema-pro/main?utm_source=lineup&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=253-laura-crane&utm_content=dryrobe]. Big Wave Season window starts November 1st, 2025 - March 31st, 2026. Get the latest merch at the WSL Store [https://www.wslstore.com/?utm_source=lineup&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=253-laura-crane&utm_content=dryrobe]! Join the conversation by following The Lineup [https://www.instagram.com/thelineuppod?utm_source=lineup&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=253-laura-crane&utm_content=dryrobe] podcast with Dave Prodan [https://www.instagram.com/daveprodan?utm_source=lineup&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=253-laura-crane&utm_content=dryrobe] on Instagram and subscribing to our YouTube channel. [https://www.youtube.com/wsl?utm_source=lineup&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=253-laura-crane&utm_content=dryrobe] Get the latest WSL rankings, news, and event info. [https://www.worldsurfleague.com?utm_source=lineup&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=253-laura-crane&utm_content=dryrobe] **Visit this page if you’ve been affected by the Los Angeles wildfires, and would like to volunteer or donate. [https://www.worldsurfleague.com/posts/538388/losangelesfirerelief?utm_source=lineup&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=253-laura-crane&utm_content=dryrobe] Our hearts are with  you.** Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

EP 252: Eddie Donnellan – MeWater Foundation celebrating 10 years, Surfing as a conduit for change, YETI support, Overcoming fears, Fatherhood, and Every wave being the one

Eddie Donnellan is a surfer, father, and the founder of the MeWater Foundation, which celebrates its 10-year anniversary this year. Calling in from his home near Ocean Beach in San Francisco, Eddie shares how skating a curb growing up with a stranger led to a single 15-minute conversation that changed the trajectory of his life and led him to a lifelong connection with surfing and the ocean. Eddie reflects on his own upbringing, his mother’s resilience as an immigrant and educator, and how those lessons shaped his work in children’s mental health and his passion for creating opportunities for underserved youth. He explains how MeWater uses surfing and time in nature as a conduit for healing, confidence, and community, and why sharing a child’s very first wave can be the most powerful moment of all. The conversation touches on the challenges and triumphs of running a nonprofit, partnerships with brands like YETI and Patagonia, and why integrity matters when it comes to working with supporters. Eddie also shares what’s next for MeWater, from college scholarships to taking kids on tropical trips that expand their world, as well as personal reflections on fatherhood, setting boundaries, and the lessons he’s learned from the kids who inspire him. Follow Eddie here [https://www.instagram.com/eddiedonnellan/?utm_source=lineup&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=252-eddie-donnellan&utm_content=yeti] and the MeWater Foundation here [https://www.instagram.com/mewaterfoundation/?utm_source=lineup&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=252-eddie-donnellan&utm_content=yeti]. Get involved with MeWater Foundation [https://www.mewaterfoundation.org/?utm_source=lineup&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=252-eddie-donnellan&utm_content=yeti]! Catch the next generation on the Challenger Series at the EDP Ericeira Pro, September 29 - October 5. [https://www.worldsurfleague.com/events/2025/cs/346/edp-ericeira-pro/main?utm_source=lineup&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=252-eddie-donnellan&utm_content=yeti] Get the latest merch at the WSL Store [https://www.wslstore.com?utm_source=lineup&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=252-eddie-donnellan&utm_content=yeti]! Visit our episode show sponsor YETI [https://www.yeti.com?utm_source=lineup&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=252-eddie-donnellan&utm_content=yeti] and get their amazing gear now! Join the conversation by following The Lineup [https://www.instagram.com/thelineuppod?utm_source=lineup&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=252-eddie-donnellan&utm_content=yeti] podcast with Dave Prodan [https://www.instagram.com/daveprodan?utm_source=lineup&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=252-eddie-donnellan&utm_content=yeti] on Instagram and subscribing to our YouTube channel. [https://www.youtube.com/wsl?utm_source=lineup&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=252-eddie-donnellan&utm_content=yeti] Get the latest WSL rankings, news, and event info. [https://www.worldsurfleague.com?utm_source=lineup&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=252-eddie-donnellan&utm_content=yeti] **Visit this page if you’ve been affected by the Los Angeles wildfires, and would like to volunteer or donate. [https://www.worldsurfleague.com/posts/538388/losangelesfirerelief?utm_source=lineup&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=252-eddie-donnellan&utm_content=yeti] Our hearts are with  you.** Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]