In this episode of On Water, we sit down with Glenn Hening, founding father of the Surfrider Foundation to dive deep into the relaunch of his powerful book, Waves of Warning. Glenn’s narrative is more than a story—it’s an exploration of what happens when cultures collide against the backdrop of the ocean’s unlimited energy.
Glenn's book, Waves of Warning - originally published in 2008 and republished in 2025 along with the audio book read by Hening himself - creates the perfect stage for asking the big, uncomfortable questions he never shies away from. In this episode, Glenn challenges us to rethink what we believe about surfing and our impact upon the ocean and one another. In the episode, we explore our awe of the ocean, the corrosive pull of commercialism and competition into the realm of surfing, and the responsibility we hold - as water lovers - to leave a legacy rooted in generosity, community, and care for the playground that gives us so much.
Insightful, provocative, and grounded in raw experience, Glenn Hening isn’t afraid to unsettle anyone who claims to love the ocean while contributing to its cultural or environmental erosion. His perspective will push you to reconsider where—and how—we should draw the line between surfing’s explosive growth and preserving the spirit of sharing waves with respect and intention.
Welcome to this episode of On Water, the official podcast of The Session Magazine. If you like what you hear, please LIKE, SHARE and SUBSCRIBE to this podcast now available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, Audible, Google Play and at www.session-magazine.com .
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