The Lineup with Dave Prodan - A Surfing Podcast

Joel Parkinson is a Gold Coast surfing icon; a CT standout with 11 CT wins, 3 Hawaiian Triple Crowns, 4 World Runner-Ups, the 2012 World Champion, and is globally-renowned as one of the most stylish and consistent competitors in modern surfing history. 

In this year’s first episode of The Lineup, he reflects on the journey that defined his career. Parko opens with the grassroots of Australian surfing, from Snapper Rocks Boardriders’ 60+ year history to why club culture remains the backbone of the sport. He rewinds the tape back to when he was a young 11-year-old grom signing with Billabong for discounted boardshorts–and three decades later, still part of the team, a partnership that endured the ups and downs of brand-athlete relationships in surfing. He reveals how close he came to jumping ship to Rip Curl as a teenager, the jaw-dropping offer from Quiksilver in his early 20s, and why loyalty ultimately won. 

Parko reflects on sharing a team with legends like Mark Occhilupo, Taj Burrow, and Luke Egan, and what it was like witnessing Andy Irons at his peak during the Blue Horizon era. He also shares the unforgettable story of Andy claiming the top room at the Billabong house in Hawaii—rankings be damned. The conversation shifts to life on Tour: traveling with his wife and kids long before it was common, the emotional toll of chasing a World Title while raising a family, and why his wife “deserves more of a World Title” than he does. 

Parko opens up about nearly quitting in 2011 after a brutal New York event, how letting go reshaped his mindset, and the constant mental weight surfers carry when fighting for a Top 5. He dives into his rivalry and lifelong friendship with Mick Fanning and Dean Morrison, addresses the “style” narrative that followed him throughout his career, and gets deep into board talk—from early DHD days to his long partnership with JS Industries, including the mythical board that went 17 heats undefeated.

Learn more about Joel here and follow him here.

Shop the A.I. Collection from Billabong here

Stay tuned to the Bioglan Newcastle SURFEST Presented by Bonsoy, Mar 9 - 15.

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A quick update from Dave regarding The Lineup in 2026

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Dave sits down with WSL Championship Tour standout Isabella Nichols and filmmaker/photographer Jakob Gjerluff Ager to dive into their new film Nordborn, a cinematic ode to Isabella’s Danish heritage and the quiet strength found in cold-water surfing. Fresh off a season of heavy travel, Isabella reflects on a year that pushed her physically and emotionally, and how reconnecting with her family’s lineage opened unexpected creative and personal doors. She shares how Denmark went from a childhood holiday destination to the emotional anchor of a new project, one that helped her explore identity, belonging, and the feeling of “hygge” that shaped the film’s tone. Jakob breaks down the creative process behind capturing the stark, soulful beauty of the North Atlantic, why he was drawn to telling Isabella’s story, and how their shared cultural ties shaped the visual language of Nordborn. Together, they talk about bringing a non-traditional surf landscape to life, blending family history with modern surf performance, and the unexpected magic of cold-water lineups. The trio also dives into the contrasts between tour life and creative life, navigating career pivots, the importance of place and community, and how storytelling can reshape the way we see surfing and surfers.

Learn more about Isabella here and follow her here.

Learn more about Jakob Gjerluff Ager here and follow him here.

Watch their film Nordborn here!

Big Wave Season window is right around the corner! Stay tuned November 1st, 2025 - March 31st, 2026.

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Join the conversation by following The Lineup podcast with Dave Prodan on Instagram and subscribing to our YouTube channel.

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Morgane Herculano is a professional high diver, Harvard graduate, and one of the most fascinating athletes you’ve never heard of. Born and raised in Switzerland, Morgane turned a love of flips at her local pool into a global career, diving from cliffs and platforms towering nearly 60 feet above the water. Now based between Boston and Montreal, she joins The Lineup fresh off a season that took her from Japan to Iceland to Italy, competing across the world in conditions that test not just athletic precision but nerve, adaptability, and trust in yourself. Morgane opens up about the mental side of diving with the fear never really goes away, what it means to balance intellect and adrenaline, and how social media has created new ways for niche athletes to make a living. She reflects on her journey from traditional diving to the extreme world of high diving, the challenges of growing up as the oldest of five in Switzerland, and earning her spot at Harvard without an athletic scholarship. She discusses how the NCAA NIL law changed the game for college athletes' opportunity to earn income, the unique camaraderie within the cliff diving community, and the accomplishment of a top-five World Cup finish in 2025.

Learn more about Morgane here and follow her here.

Catch the highlights from the Surf Abu Dhabi Longboard Classic, Oct 24 - 26.

Stay tuned to the Surf City El Salvador Longboard Championships, Nov 5 - 9.

Big Wave Season window is right around the corner! Stay tuned November 1st, 2025 - March 31st, 2026.

Get the latest merch at the WSL Store!

Join the conversation by following The Lineup podcast with Dave Prodan on Instagram and subscribing to our YouTube channel.

Get the latest WSL rankings, news, and event info.**Visit this page if you’ve been affected by the Los Angeles wildfires, and would like to volunteer or donate. Our hearts are with  you.**
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Nic von Rupp joins The Lineup with Dave Prodan as he prepares for another Big Wave season, coming off one where he earned the 2025 Best Team Performance Award and added to his growing legend as one of big wave surfing’s most complete athletes. Calling in from home after a ten-foot barrel session, Nic reflects on how far his country and his career have come. From an era when it was “unthinkable” to be a professional surfer from Portugal to now representing his nation at The Eddie Aikau Invitational, Nic shares how Nazaré transformed not only global big wave surfing, but the identity of an entire coastline. He dives deep into his path from Nike and Monster-sponsored competitor to free surfer and filmmaker, why he walked away from chasing jerseys, and how the “Von Froth” persona came to life. Nic talks about chasing barrels at Mavericks and Jaws, pioneering sessions with Tom Lowe, and how his background in competition taught him the consistency and discipline to handle big days at home. Together with Dave, Nic discusses the state of the surf industry – from the rise of athlete-driven content to the decline of traditional surf sponsorship – and what he thinks the next generation of pros really needs. He also opens up about his creative process, balancing the froth with perspective, and how staying healthy and curious keeps him charging forward.

Follow Nic here and watch his YouTube series Von Froth here.

Check his podcast Von Froth Cast here!

Learn more about his big wave project Mountains of the Sea and follow them here.

Stay tuned to the next stop on the Longboard Tour, the Surf Abu Dhabi Longboard Classic, Oct 24 - 26.

Big Wave Season window starts November 1st, 2025 - March 31st, 2026.

Get the latest merch at the WSL Store!

Join the conversation by following The Lineup podcast with Dave Prodan on Instagram and subscribing to our YouTube channel.

Get the latest WSL rankings, news, and event info.

**Visit this page if you’ve been affected by the Los Angeles wildfires, and would like to volunteer or donate. Our hearts are with  you.**
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