Blakey Johnston Surfed For 40 Hours Non-Stop - The Response Was Incredible episode artwork

EPISODE · Jun 2, 2026 · 1H 57M

Blakey Johnston Surfed For 40 Hours Non-Stop - The Response Was Incredible

from Hunger & Heart with Kaila Colbin

He lost his dad to suicide, surfed for 40 hours straight and built one of Australia's most powerful mental health movements — one wave at a time.Blake Johnston is a World Record holder, mental health advocate, Director of Cronulla Surfing Academy, and the man behind the world's largest paddle out. But before any of that, he was a kid from Cronulla who loved the ocean more than anything — and had no idea how much he'd one day need it.In this episode, Blake shares the full story: growing up with ADHD in a house of many brothers, chasing a pro surfing career that didn't quite go the distance, meeting and marrying his partner Lauren, and then — in a single phone call on the way home from a surf retreat — having his world shattered when he lost his dad to suicide.What followed was a decade of rebuilding. And then, in an act that defied what most people would consider humanly possible, he paddled out into five-to-six foot surf at 1 AM, and didn't come back in for 40 hours and 7 minutes. 707 waves. A world record. This conversation covers grief, purpose, resilience, the ocean, community, parenthood, and mental health.Please note: this episode talks about depression and suicide. If you or someone you know is struggling, free help is available through Lifeline, call 0508 TAUTOKO, that’s 0508 828 865.To learn more:Get a link to Blakey’s website: https://www.swellbeing.com.au/A link to his book, Swellbeing: https://www.swellbeing.com.au/product/swellbeing/And a link to the documentary (trailer and where to watch in Aus): https://inpiecestogetherfilm.com/–Hunger & Heart is brought to you by the Crusaders Leadership Programme™. Whether you're coaching under-5s or a professional team, we all want the same thing: to build cultures of trust, get the best out of our people, and grow players into leaders.The Crusaders Leadership Programme™ lets you get up close and personal with some of the greatest rugby legends of all time — people like Sir Wayne Smith, Sam Whitelock, and Kieran Read.  You'll connect with a global group of ambitious, caring coaches from a range of codes and backgrounds, and most importantly, you'll gain skills and techniques to drive impact and outcomes for your team.  The Crusaders Leadership Programme™ is a two-week high-intensity virtual experience.  It is delivered exclusively online, accessible from anywhere. Hunger and heart Listeners get 10% off the full price of the program. Use the code HUNGER at checkout. Find out more: crusadersleadership.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Blakey Johnston Surfed For 40 Hours Non-Stop - The Response Was Incredible

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