Split Peak Soup
Welcome to Split Peak Soup Podcast! I’m your host, Neal Kearney. I feel very blessed to have been born and raised here in Santa Cruz, California. Santa Cruz is a hotbed for talented individuals, including, but not limited to: professional surfers and skaters, master surfboard shapers, internationally renowned artists, expert musicians, boundary pushing intellectual thinkers, and out-of-this-world explorers of consciousness.
Working as a professional journalist for the past twenty-plus years, I’ve had the opportunity to sit down with these extraordinary humans and in-depth and insightful chats. While these discussions have helped inform many written pieces that I’m proud of, I oftentimes felt that I was leaving a lot of meat left on the bone, as the few quotes I’d incorporate into my writing oftentimes seemed to strip my interviewees of their own authentic voices.
Luckily, we are entering a brave new world, where the podcast has risen as a popular form of storytelling and media consumption. From Joe Rogan to Conan O’Brien, podcasters have officially taken over. And now, I’m joining the fray. The Split Peak Soup Podcast is my way of using my skills as a story-teller to offer long format conversations with those whose stories deserve to be told.
So, what are you waiting for? Pull up a cozy chair, grab a napkin and your favorite spoon, and get ready to dig into another savory serving of Split Peak Soup!
Split Peak Soup
Split Peak Soup Podcast Episode 14--Kyle Marty
Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.
What a gift it is to call Santa Cruz, California, home. For those of us lucky enough to have grown up in this idyllic beach town, familiarity with the ocean often starts at an early age. Whether the introduction comes in the form of surf lessons by a family member or participation in the Junior Lifeguard programs, we learn early on how to protect ourselves, and others, from the perils of an unruly sea.
And beyond that? Many local surfers take the skills they’ve acquired during this formative time of their lives and apply it to a greater cause, including careers in lifeguarding and firefighting.
One such local legend is Kyle Marty, who cut his teeth in the lifesaving biz working as a State Lifeguard, spending his summers making sure that ocean lovers could enjoy their time at Santa Cruz’s many beautiful beaches safely. From there, he graduated to the role of firefighter, joining an elite group of men and women, including his brother Dustin, responding to the calls of citizens in need.
Marty is also an invaluable member of the Marine Rescue Unit— firefighters trained specifically for responding to calls involving the ocean. As a talented surfer, he also found a calling as a part of the Mavericks Rescue team— a group of courageous watermen who volunteer their time manning jet-ski’s to patrol the heavy waters of the fabled break in Half Moon Bay, performing dramatic pick-ups for downed big-wave riders.
In this episode, we touched on his origins as a waterman, first responder, and big wave rider. We outlined the dangers facing uneducated surfers during extreme high tides along the perilous cliffs that line our shores, and how we all have a responsibility to educate and come to the aid of these misguided beginners whenever possible.
It was a pleasure to have this talented young man on the podcast, and we could all learn a thing or two from his extensive experience. Kick back, grab a beverage and enjoy this educational and essential episode of Split Peak Soup!