288. Koa Smith: You're Facing Your Fear the Wrong Way. A Top Big-Wave Surfer's Method
Descripción del Episodio
You think some people are just born without fear, but my guest Koa Smith has spent 15 years paddling into waves big enough to kill him, and he'll tell you the opposite: fear never leaves, the whole game is what you do when it shows up. After a reef injury knocked him unconscious underwater and left him eight months numb, depressed, and unable to get a straight answer from a doctor, he clawed his way back with forest time, breathwork, meditation, clean food, and real sleep instead of a prescription. This isn't really a surfing video, it's about the same fear that keeps you from a hard conversation, a new business, or a decision you've been avoiding, and how getting clear lets you finally see through it.
CLICK HERE TO BECOME GARY’S VIP!: https://bit.ly/4ai0Xwg
Connect with Koa Smith
Website: https://bit.ly/4pwKtZ0
YouTube: https://bit.ly/4gJxZLf
Instagram: https://bit.ly/3RoFYTt
Facebook: https://bit.ly/3TJhk0C
TikTok: https://bit.ly/45eUzUQ
Thank you to our partners
A-GAME: “ULTIMATE15” FOR 15% OFF: http://bit.ly/4kek1ij
AION: “ULTIMATE10” FOR 10% OFF: https://bit.ly/4h6KHAD
AIRES: "ULTIMATE20 " FOR 20% OFF: https://bit.ly/4a3Duze
BAJA GOLD: "ULTIMATE10" FOR 10% OFF: https://bit.ly/3WSBqUa
BODYHEALTH: “ULTIMATE20” FOR 20% OFF: http://bit.ly/4e5IjsV
COLD LIFE: THE ULTIMATE HUMAN PLUNGE: https://bit.ly/4eULUKp
CYMBIOTIKA: "ULTIMATE10" FOR 10% OFF: https://bit.ly/4tjyluP
GENETIC METHYLATION TEST (UK ONLY): https://bit.ly/48QJJrk
GENETIC TEST (USA ONLY): https://bit.ly/3Yg1Uk9
GOPUFF: GET YOUR FAVORITE SNACK!: https://bit.ly/4obIFDC
H2TAB: “ULTIMATE10” FOR 10% OFF: https://bit.ly/4hMNdgg
HEALF: 10% OFF YOUR ORDER: https://bit.ly/41HJg6S
PEPTUAL: “TUH10” FOR 10% OFF: https://bit.ly/4mKxgcn
SNOOZE: LET’S GET TO SLEEP!: https://bit.ly/4pt1T6V
WHOOP: JOIN & GET 1 FREE MONTH!: https://bit.ly/3VQ0nzW
Watch the “Ultimate Human Podcast” every Tuesday & Thursday at 9AM EST:
YouTube: https://bit.ly/3RPQYX8
Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3RQftU0
Connect with Gary Brecka
Instagram: https://bit.ly/3RPpnFs
TikTok: https://bit.ly/4coJ8foX: https://bit.ly/3Opc8tf
Facebook: https://bit.ly/464VA1H
LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/4hH7Ri2
Website: https://bit.ly/4eLDbdU
Merch: https://bit.ly/4aBpOM1
Newsletter: https://bit.ly/47ejrws
Ask Gary: https://bit.ly/3PEAJuG
Timestamps
00:00 - Intro of Show
01:16 - Meet Koa Smith: surfer and abundance advocate
03:44 - Learning to manage the fear of the ocean
06:23 - Feeling good as the key to seeing through fear
07:33 - Wim Hof breathing, ice baths, and the early days
08:51 - Transcendental and Joe Dispenza meditation
10:02 - What meditation actually is (and busy minds)
11:57 - Surfacing buried memories and energetic blockages
13:45 - Learning to hear your own voice
16:37 - The traumatic brain injury on the reef
17:15 - Waking up underwater to violin music
21:07 - Depression, double vision, and numbness set in
22:23 - Doctors refuse the brain scan
23:18 - Forest bathing as the number one tool
25:00 - Slippery thoughts and the darkest moment
26:16 - Antidepressants vs. his gut instinct
27:06 - Fantastic Fungi and the mushroom decision
33:00 - The forest experience and its instructions
37:17 - The reset that healed the injury
46:26 - Why meditation beats going deeper too often
48:01 - Pear-xanthine and getting off stimulants
52:16 - Building the cafe and drink brands
56:32 - Where to find Koa
58:03 - What it means to be an ultimate human
Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not provide medical advice. It is not intended for diagnosing or treating any health condition. Always consult a licensed healthcare professional before making health or wellness decisions.
Gary Brecka is the owner of Ultimate Human, LLC which operates The Ultimate Human podcast and promotes certain third-party products used by Gary Brecka in his personal health and wellness protocols and daily life and for which Ultimate Human LLC and / or Gary Brecka directly or indirectly holds an economic interest or receives compensation. Accordingly, statements made by Gary Brecka and others (including on The Ultimate Human podcast) may be considered promotional in nature.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Episodios Recientes
Más podcasts de Sociedad y Cultura
Ver toda la categoría →
Prenderse Fuego: Las Voces de Pedro Lemebel
By shows
<p>Serie sonora y biográfica que recorre la vida, obra y legado de Pedro Lemebel a través de su voz. A partir de archivos radiales, entrevistas inéditas, testimonios íntimos y documentos personales, este viaje sonoro reconstruye al artista, narrador, cronista, performer y figura pública desde su registro más icónico: su forma de hablar, de relatar y de provocar. Cada episodio explora una etapa distinta de su vida, enfatizando en su voz —como herramienta estética y política— y cómo fue transformándose hasta el final de su vida.</p> <p>Prenderse Fuego es una coproducción de GAM y Podium Podcast Chile.</p>
Testigo Directo
By shows
Testigo Directo es un video podcast de periodismo investigativo que te sumerge en las historias más impactantes de Colombia y América Latina. Desde el narcotráfico y el crimen organizado, hasta casos de corrupción, desapariciones y luchas sociales, cada episodio revela verdades ocultas y voces silenciadas. Con una narrativa ágil, testimonios exclusivos y análisis de fondo, Testigo Directo va más allá de los titulares para mostrar lo que otros no cuentan. 🔍 Escucha. Cuestiona. Sé Testigo Directo.
Dan Carlin's Hardcore History
By shows
In "Hardcore History" journalist and broadcaster Dan Carlin takes his "Martian", unorthodox way of thinking and applies it to the past. Was Alexander the Great as bad a person as Adolf Hitler? What would Apaches with modern weapons be like? Will our modern civilization ever fall like civilizations from past eras? This isn't academic history (and Carlin isn't a historian) but the podcast's unique blend of high drama, masterful narration and Twilight Zone-style twists has entertained millions of listeners.
Mick Unplugged
By shows
Everybody talks about your WHY. Mick Hunt goes deeper. Mick Unplugged is the leadership and personal growth podcast built on one idea: your BECAUSE is the purpose underneath your purpose, and it is the most powerful force you own. Hosted by Mick Hunt, USA Today bestselling author and the voice of Modern Leadership, every episode sits across from a high performer, founder, athlete, or culture-shaper and asks the one question they cannot fake an answer to. What is your BECAUSE? Past guests include Shark Tank stars Daymond John and Kevin O'Leary, entrepreneur Gary Vaynerchuk, motivational legend Les Brown, Chef Robert Irvine, comedians Rickey Smiley and Earthquake, NFL Hall of Famer Jared Allen, hospitality mogul David Grutman, and World Series champion Jeremy Guthrie. No scripts. No surface-level fluff. Just the real fire behind why they refused to quit. If you are a leader, an entrepreneur, or someone who is done coasting on motivational quotes, this is your show. You will walk away every week with mindset shifts, leadership strategy, and the kind of straight talk that actually moves you forward. New episodes drop weekly. Follow Mick Unplugged on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube so you never miss one. Your BECAUSE is your Superpower. Go Unleash It.
Creators Inc. Podcast
By shows
Andy Bachman's Creators Inc. Podcast is an unfiltered podcast where top content creators talk honestly about how they grow, go viral, and make real money online. We break down strategies, mistakes, algorithms, and the behind-the-scenes moments nobody posts — plus personal stories, internet drama, and whatever wild shit is happening in their world. Smart, funny, and unscripted. Swear words included. If you’re building an audience or just want to know how the creator economy really works, this is creators thinking out loud.
Coffeez with Joe Shalaby
By shows
Hosted by Joseph Shalaby, Founder and CEO of E Mortgage Capital, this isn’t your typical business podcast. Each episode brings you inside the minds of high-level entrepreneurs, investors, athletes, celebrities, and cultural voices shaping today’s economy — not just what they do, but how they actually win. From raw origin stories and early struggles to the real mechanics behind how money is made, scaled, and sometimes lost, Joe cuts through the noise to get to what matters. No fluff. No surface-level answers. Set inside the world of Coffeez, every conversation unfolds with intention — how they started, how they built, what it cost them, and what separates them now. Whether you're building something, investing in something, or simply trying to understand how the game really works, Coffeez with Joe Shalaby delivers unfiltered insight from people who are actually in it.
Tomorrow, Today
By shows
What if humans lived 300 years? What if AI replaces friendships? What if consciousness could be uploaded?Tomorrow, Today is hosted by Shekhar Natarajan, founder and CEO of Orchestro.AI and former senior executive at American Eagle, Walmart, Target, and Disney, where he led global innovations in technology and supply chain. Having shaped how industries adapt to disruption, Shekhar now considers the questions that will define humanity’s next era.Blending cinematic storytelling, raw conversations, and unfiltered perspectives, Tomorrow, Today explores breakthrough ideas before they become mainstream. Each episode brings together world-class experts, cultural voices, and everyday people to unpack the opportunities and risks of a rapidly evolving future.The future is coming. Tomorrow, Today helps us decide what to do about it.
