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Home > Waterpeople Podcast > Sarah Gerhardt: Unstable Bonds


	Podcast:		Waterpeople Podcast
	Episode:		Sarah Gerhardt: Unstable Bonds
	Category:		Sports & Recreation
	Duration:		01:10:54
	Publish Date:		2025-06-09 08:00:00
	Description:		Besides being a professor of chemistry, Dr. Sarah Gerhardt was the first woman to ride one of the world’s most feared waves, Mavericks in icy Northern California. She is a mother of two and acknowledged as the first female tow-in surfer. Amidst a tumultuous childhood, Sarah found stability in an unexpected place: The Periodic Table of Elements. Sarah learned to surf in the late '80s at Pismo Beach, California. In time, surfing became her escape from the hardships of home and faith became the guiding force in her life. She started experimenting with heavy water and big waves during her freshman year at college. One Winter Story, a documentary about Sarah's big wave pioneering and scientific inquiry, came out in 2003. More recently, Sarah featured in the groundbreaking documentary The Big Sea, wherein she lays out the chemical composition of neoprene - the material all of our wetsuits have been made of until very recently. She talks us through some surprising chemistry - and the big impact seemingly small choices can make. .... Timestamps 00:00:00 - A Pivotal Moment in the Water 00:02:24 - The Magic of Surfing and Presence 00:03:58 - Seeking Solitude in Heavy Water 00:05:03 - The Allure of Chemistry 00:08:29 - Finding Stability in Uncertainty 00:10:38 - The Zone of Proximal Development 00:12:24 - Learning to Surf Mavericks 00:14:02 - Exploring the Moods of Mavericks 00:21:38 - Managing Fear in Heavy Water 00:28:15 - Finding Belonging in Surf Culture 00:29:49 - Cultural Changes in Surfing 00:30:40 - The Impact of Personal Health on Physical Activity 00:34:39 - Environmental Concerns with Wetsuits 00:36:58 - The Truth About Limestone Neoprene 00:42:06 - Exploring Eulex and Natural Rubber 00:45:27 - Consumer Responsibility and Innovation 00:47:12 - The Importance of Peer Review in Science Send us a text ... Listen with Lauren L. Hill & Dave Rastovich Sound + Video Engineer: Ben J Alexander Theme song: Shannon Sol Carroll Additional music by Kai Mcgilvray + Ben J Alexander Join the conversation: @Waterpeoplepodcast ... Get monthly musings and behind the scenes content from the podcast by subscribing to our newsletter. You'll get water-centric reading and listening recommendations, questions worth asking, and ways to take action for the wellbeing of Planet Ocean delivered straight to your inbox. You can stream every Waterpeople episode from your desk.
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