n this episode of The Surf Strong Show, Greg sits down with Barrett Perlman — former professional wakeboarder, surfer, transformation coach, and spiritual guide — for a conversation about surfing, breath, meditation, confidence, and what it really means to stay present in the ocean.

Barrett shares her path from professional wakeboarding to surfing, including the early frustration of learning to paddle, read waves, and surrender to an environment where no two waves are ever the same. She also reflects on a long backside right in Morocco that still lives in her memory as one of those waves that changes how you see surfing.

From there, the conversation moves into the deeper side of surf longevity: breath control, hold-down anxiety, paddle endurance, pop-up mechanics, and learning how to stay calm when the ocean puts you under pressure.

Greg and Barrett also talk about dry-land surf training, video review, adapting your pop-up to your own body, and why having fun matters just as much as “getting reps.”

This episode is for surfers who want to keep surfing for life — with more strength, mobility, confidence, awareness, and connection to the ocean.

Listen now and follow The Surf Strong Show for more conversations on surf fitness, longevity, resilience, and ocean-connected living.

Connect with Barrett Perlman
Instagram: @barrettperlman

Work with Greg / Surf Strong For Life
1:1 Surf Fitness Coaching: surfstrongfit.com/start

Summary

In this inspiring interview, Shiloh Strong shares his transformative journey through personal health crises, the power of surfing as a source of resilience, and the impactful work of Ashes to Films, a nonprofit supporting creatives affected by disasters. Discover how storytelling, community, and creative healing can turn trauma into hope.

Keywords

Resilience, Surfing, Creative Healing, Ashes to Films, Personal Transformation, Disaster Recovery, Mental Health, Community Support, Filmmaking, Inspiration

Key Topics

• Personal transformation through health crises
• The role of surfing in mental resilience
• The mission and impact of Ashes to Films

Guest Name

Shiloh Strong

Sound bites

"The Vanagon is almost the perfect vehicle."

"The surgery was life-saving."

"Reduce resistance, just go."

Chapters

00:00 Surfing Memories and Personal Connections

01:39 The Significance of the Vanagon

03:38 Life Changes and Heart Surgery

03:39 Growing Up Between Two Landscapes

05:57 The Healing Power of Surfing

08:36 Transition to Santa Barbara and the Fire Incident

10:47 The Impact of Loss and Community Support

13:38 Introducing Ashes to Films

16:03 Creative Recovery Through Filmmaking

18:56 The Journey of Ashes to Films

21:48 Empowering Filmmakers Post-Fire

25:21 Evolving Perspectives on Time and Creativity

27:10 Finding Balance in Passion and Life

29:59 Reducing Resistance to Enjoy Life

33:15 Navigating Digital Distractions

36:37 Life-Altering Health Challenges

40:55 The Transformative Power of Daily Rituals

46:00 Redefining Success and Creativity

49:14 Building Resilience Through Creativity

55:46 Podcast Outro.mp4

Resources

Ashes to Films Website - https://ashestofilms.org

Tribeca Film Festival - https://tribecafilm.com

Writers Guild of America - https://www.wga.org

Director's Guild of America - https://www.dga.org

Sundance Film Festival - https://www.sundance.org

Guest links

Website - https://shilohstrong.com

Twitter - https://twitter.com/shilohstrong

Instagram - https://instagram.com/shilohstrong

Dr. Ashley Allen lives at a rare intersection: emergency medicine, integrative healing, chronic pain recovery, and surfing.

In this conversation, we explore how her work as an ER doctor has shaped her understanding of stress, healing, and the mind-body connection—and how her own personal journey led her to look beyond conventional medicine alone.

Dr. Ashley shares how practices like stillness, breath, mindfulness, and surfing can help people reconnect with themselves, reduce stress, and begin creating real change without feeling overwhelmed.

We also talk about burnout in healthcare, the challenge of slowing down in a high-stress world, and why healing often starts with small, simple steps and a willingness to believe a different future is possible.

This episode is a grounded, thoughtful look at what it means to care for the body, calm the nervous system, and take ownership of your path toward wellness.

Takeaways

• Healing is not always about doing more. Often it starts by slowing down enough to listen.
• The mind-body connection plays a major role in stress, recovery, and long-term wellness.
• Small, consistent practices can create meaningful change without adding overwhelm.
• Surfing can be more than recreation—it can become part of a personal wellness practice.
• Healthcare providers need spaces and tools to process stress, avoid burnout, and stay connected to their own well-being.
• Belief in the possibility of change is often the first real step in a healing journey.
  
  Chapters

  00:00 Surfing as Medicine, Escape, and Awareness
  28:54 Making Surfing Part of a Wellness Practice
  34:32 Beginning the Healing Journey
  42:01 Mindfulness, Burnout, and Healing in Healthcare