Vast. Lives Podcast

Vast Lives Ep 53: Takayuki Wakita
Vast Lives Ep 53: Takayuki Wakita
In conversation with Steve — filmed outside Sylphide, the surf and windsurf shop his father founded over 40 years ago — Takayuki reflects on arriving in Hawaii with nothing but... Read more...
Vast Lives Ep 52: Wishulada Panthanuvong
Vast Lives Ep 52: Wishulada Panthanuvong
Steve sits down with Wishulada, a social activist artist based in Nonthaburi, Bangkok - Thailand, whose work transforms discarded urban waste into intricate sculptures rooted in ancient Thai weaving traditions.... Read more...
Vast Lives Ep 51: Tapiwa Guzha
Vast Lives Ep 51: Tapiwa Guzha
In this Vastlife Podcast episode, Tapiwa shares a deeply layered perspective shaped by his Zimbabwean roots and Cape Town life, blending food, art, and sex education into one purpose: enriching... Read more...
Vast Lives Ep 50: Atsushi
Vast Lives Ep 50: Atsushi
Atsushi left Japan’s conventional path behind, trading a retail career for surf, uncertainty, and reinvention across Hawaii, California, and ultimately Danang—where he found clarity, community, and a simpler way to... Read more...
Vast Lives Ep 49: UG | Burnout to Bali — Depression to Freedom
Vast Lives Ep 49: UG | Burnout to Bali — Depression to Freedom
Steve sits down with UG in his serene Chigasaki wellness space to unpack a deeply personal journey—from lost dreams and burnout to unexpected transformation. What unfolds is a powerful story... Read more...
Vast Lives Ep 48: Earth House Bangkok | Samantha's Story of Roots, Rebellion & Plant-Based Living
Vast Lives Ep 48: Earth House Bangkok | Samantha's Story of Roots, Rebellion & Plant-Based Living
Steve sits down with Samantha, the visionary behind Earth House, a hidden plant-based gem in Bangkok that blends food with philosophy. From her multicultural roots to building the space from... Read more...
Vast Lives Episode 47: Frank Solomon
Vast Lives Episode 47: Frank Solomon
Frank Solomon is a disruptor. Starting his journey out as a professional surfer Frank quickly found his resolve in doing what matters most to him. Community leader, humanitarian and sustainability... Read more...
Vast Lives Episode 46: Sho Watanabe
Vast Lives Episode 46: Sho Watanabe
Sho is a one of a kind human being. His goal is to remain as low key as possible. Some may call it a man cave others might see it... Read more...
Vast Lives Episode 45: Barton Lynch
Vast Lives Episode 45: Barton Lynch
Barton and Steve have a candid conversation on the state of surfing. Filmed in 2024 at Barton’s home on Sunset Beach, the discussion reads today almost like a forecast —... Read more...
Vast Lives Ep 44: Yudai Kosuga
Vast Lives Ep 44: Yudai Kosuga
In Chigasaki, Japan, Steve meets Yudai—someone whose presence lands instantly, warm and quietly magnetic—inside his small, popular coffee shop. The space feels like a direct extension of him: low-key, thoughtfully... Read more...
Vast Lives Ep 43: Bernie Shelly
Vast Lives Ep 43: Bernie Shelly
In Cape Town, Steve sits down with Bernie Shelly, a fixture in South Africa’s surf world and a woman who’s been chasing waves for half a century. Bernie traces the... Read more...
Vast Lives Episode 42: Reita Moriya
Vast Lives Episode 42: Reita Moriya
Steve and Reita discuss his early years doing his best to help his aging father whilst realizing that only later in life he would get to follow his true passion.... Read more...
Vast Lives Ep 41: Tho' Hidden Gem
Vast Lives Ep 41: Tho' Hidden Gem
On a bright afternoon in downtown Hanoi, more than eight million people flow through the city’s daily rhythm, rarely pausing to consider what trash, pollution, and mismanaged waste could mean... Read more...
Vast Lives Ep 40: Stanley Toledo
Vast Lives Ep 40: Stanley Toledo
In the heart of central Osaka, a makeshift podcast space comes to life on the sidewalk outside a packed ABC Mart, where the city’s rush becomes the backdrop. Steve sits... Read more...
Vast Lives Ep 39: Giang Troung Le
Vast Lives Ep 39: Giang Troung Le
High in Vietnam’s northwest mountains lies Ta’Van, a small village where three ethnic communities live in quiet harmony. Steve connects with Giang, a deeply rooted member of this close-knit community... Read more...
Vast Lives Ep 38: Shinji Mizuno
Vast Lives Ep 38: Shinji Mizuno
Shinji and Steve meet in a long-standing Osaka coffee shop, where conversation flows as easily as Shinji’s story. He reflects on growing up early—working by day, attending night school by... Read more...
Vast Lives Ep 37: Josh Riley
Vast Lives Ep 37: Josh Riley
Josh and Steve dive into the raw mechanics of creativity—where art, music, and acting blur into one unfolding process. Together they explore what anchors us when ideas spiral, what guides... Read more...
Vast Lives Ep 36: Ryu Banner
Vast Lives Ep 36: Ryu Banner
Steve and Ryu sit outside his gallery in Chigasaki, Japan—a laid-back coastal town with a deep surf culture—as Ryu reflects on a youth spent wrestling with identity before fully embracing... Read more...
Vast Lives Ep 35: Paul Van Der Spuy
Vast Lives Ep 35: Paul Van Der Spuy
Paul is a tour de force of Cape Town nightlife—a familiar face often found leaning stylishly against the bar at The House of Machines as local bands spill sound onto... Read more...
Vast Lives Ep 34: Kerry Lu
Vast Lives Ep 34: Kerry Lu
Kerry Lu and Steve dig into fashion, surfing, and using big dreams to drive real-world change. As logistics and marketing manager at Vast HQ in Taipei—and the team’s “style master”—Kerry... Read more...
Vast Lives Ep 33: James Williams
Vast Lives Ep 33: James Williams
In this episode of the Vast Lives Podcast, Steve is in Cape Town, South Africa, with James Williams, co-founder of Pizza Shed. As the city’s culinary reputation surges and world-class... Read more...
Vast Lives Ep 32: Shirley Lee
Vast Lives Ep 32: Shirley Lee
Shirley Lee and Steve dive into life and leisure in bustling Taipei, where city energy meets water-fueled stoke. An entrepreneur and accomplished water sports athlete, Shirley is at the heart... Read more...
Vast Lives Ep 31: Lesther & Stefanie
Vast Lives Ep 31: Lesther & Stefanie
It was a Saturday afternoon on South Africa’s Garden Route when Steve first noticed Lesther and Stefanie cycling the coastline—Lesther towing a trailer loaded with a surfboard. Days and hundreds... Read more...
Vast Lives Ep 30: Duggar and Camie Parrish
Vast Lives Ep 30: Duggar and Camie Parrish
Duggar and Camie Parrish—parents to Noa and Keanu, both deeply connected to the Vast community—share a life rooted in the ocean and culture. Born in California and raised on Oahu,... Read more...
Vast Lives Ep 29: Cass Collier
Vast Lives Ep 29: Cass Collier
At the Todos Santos Big Wave Championship, Cass Collier and Ian Armstrong left an indelible mark on the global stage. “They totally underestimated us as athletes. They didn’t think that... Read more...
black and white palm tree
Vast Lives Ep 28: Wang Qwei
In Vast Lives episode 28, Steve sits down with Wang Qwei—affectionately known as Queeny—to explore her multifaceted role in the local surfing community. Both a dedicated waterwoman and driven business... Read more...
Vast Lives Ep 27: Bruce Gold
Vast Lives Ep 27: Bruce Gold
Steve visits Jeffreys Bay, South Africa—home to one of the world’s best right-hand point breaks—to meet local surf legend Bruce Gold. Known as J-Bay’s “last hippie,” Bruce shares stories of... Read more...
Vast Lives Ep 26: Keith Kajioka
Vast Lives Ep 26: Keith Kajioka
In this episode of Vast Lives, Keith Kajioka shares how surfing transformed his life—taking him from a troubled youth and time in juvenile detention to launching Formosa Surfboards in Taiwan. His... Read more...
Vast Lives Ep 25 : Rima Zeidan
Vast Lives Ep 25 : Rima Zeidan
In this episode, Rima shares her multicultural upbringing in Taiwan and Lebanon, her early start in the entertainment industry, and the creative challenges she’s faced along the way. She opens... Read more...
Vast Lives Ep 24 : Mick Yu Tsang Chou
Vast Lives Ep 24 : Mick Yu Tsang Chou
In this episode of the Vast Lives podcast, Steve chats with Mick Yu Tsang Chou, owner of Sol Goods Boutique in Taipei. Mick shares his journey from city life and... Read more...
Vast Lives Ep 22 : Jim Hayes
Vast Lives Ep 22 : Jim Hayes
Steve and the Vast crew visited Jim Hayes’ surf shop in Taiwan, where Jim shared stories from his early surf business days, including helping launch DaKine. He reflected on the... Read more...
Vast Lives Podcast: Episode 23 Josh Campbell:Taiwanderful Recycle Co
Vast Lives Podcast: Episode 23 Josh Campbell:Taiwanderful Recycle Co
In this episode, Steve interviews Josh Campbell, co-founder of Taiwanderful Recycle Co. in Donghe, Taiwan. They discuss the studio’s mission to turn clean, sorted waste into meaningful products and educate... Read more...
Vast Lives Podcast: Episode 21 Jaz Kaner
Vast Lives Podcast: Episode 21 Jaz Kaner
Vast Lives is a podcast that dives into the stories behind the waves—featuring surfers, creatives, and adventurers from around the world. From spontaneous island trips to heartfelt conversations about culture,... Read more...
Vast Lives Episode 20: OK Liao
Vast Lives Episode 20: OK Liao
Episode 20 – Vast Lives Podcast Artist OK Liao joins Steve to share how surfing and Hawaii’s Aloha spirit inspire his art. He talks about his first surf in 2006, his... Read more...
Vast Lives Podcast Episode 19: Jun Jo
Vast Lives Podcast Episode 19: Jun Jo
Vast Lives Podcast Ep. 19: Jun Jo’s Journey from Surf to Streetwear In this episode, Steve chats with Jun Jo in Taichung, Taiwan, diving into his journey from surfing prodigy... Read more...
Vast Lives Podcast Episode 18: Girls and Bees
Vast Lives Podcast Episode 18: Girls and Bees
Episode 18: Girls and Bees In this episode of Vast Lives Podcast, Steve Shooter visits Yvonne and Rachel, two passionate beekeepers near Kenting National Park, Taiwan. They share their serendipitous... Read more...
Vast Lives Episode 17: Birdy Nio
Vast Lives Episode 17: Birdy Nio
Vast Lives Podcast: Stories of Creativity, Passion & Resilience Vast Lives is a podcast that dives into the journeys of creatives, entrepreneurs, and visionaries who dare to chase their passions.... Read more...
Vast Lives Episode 16: Sam Yang
Vast Lives Episode 16: Sam Yang
In this episode of Vast Lives, host Steve Shooter visits VAST’s Taipei HQ to chat with founder Sam Yang about the brand’s 10-year journey, Taiwan’s surf culture, and sustainability. Sam shares... Read more...
Vast Lives Episode 15: Piter Panjaitan
Vast Lives Episode 15: Piter Panjaitan
In Episode 15 of The Vast Lives Podcast, Piter Panjaitan, surfer and Managing Director of the Bali Life Foundation, shares his journey into surfing and his mission to empower underprivileged... Read more...
Vast Lives Podcast: Episode 13- Matt George
Vast Lives Podcast: Episode 13- Matt George
In Episode 13 of Vast Lives, Steve Shooter chats with surf legend Matt George on surfing’s soul, storytelling, and his book In Deep.  Read more...
Vast Lives Episode 14 - Betet Merta
Vast Lives Episode 14 - Betet Merta
In this episode, we chat with Betet Merta about his new Uluwatu surf store, Bali's surfing culture, the rise of young talent, and balancing tourism with tradition. Read more...
Vast Lives Podcast: Episode 12 - Rizal Tandjung
In episode 12 of the Vast Lives podcast, I had the incredible opportunity to sit down with Rizal Tandjung, a renowned figure in the Indonesian surfing community and a successful entrepreneur.  Rizal took me on a nostalgic journey, reflecting on his early days in surfing, starting with the Bali Surfing Club. He shared how those formative experiences shaped his life and career, emphasizing the importance of seizing opportunities and making things happen—a mantra that resonated throughout our discussion. As we delved deeper, Rizal highlighted the evolution of surfing in Indonesia,... Read more...
Vast Lives Podcast: Episode 11 - Jake Mackenzie
Vast Lives Podcast: Episode 11 - Jake Mackenzie
In this episode, I sat down with a long-time Bali resident, Jake Mackenzie who has spent almost 15 years on the island and primarily in Uluwatu. He shared his experiences about how much Bali has changed over the years and even more so during COVID-19, which accelerated growth and shifting of the region. We talked about the balance between Bali's lifestyle appeal and rapid development challenges, touching on how the island seems to reset itself... Read more...
Vast Lives Podcast Ep 10 - Jim Banks
Vast Lives Podcast Ep 10 - Jim Banks
In this episode, we sit down with legendary surfboard shaper Jim Banks at his beautiful Uluwatu home in Bali. Join us for a deep dive into Jim's 53-year journey in... Read more...
Vast Lives Podcast: Episode 9 - Tipi Jabrik
Vast Lives Podcast: Episode 9 - Tipi Jabrik
In this episode we start off at the vibrant Earth Island Surf Festival 2024 at the stunning Pererenan Beach, one of Tipi Jabrik's favorite surfing spots in the world. The... Read more...
Vast Lives Podcast: Episode 8 - Akung
Vast Lives Podcast: Episode 8 - Akung
In this episode 08 of the Vast Lives Podcast - host Steve Shooter & Guest: Akung. I had the pleasure of sitting down with Akung, an extraordinary individual who has... Read more...
Vast Lives Podcast: Episode 7 - Kuhio Vellalos
Vast Lives Podcast: Episode 7 - Kuhio Vellalos
In episode 07 of the Vast Lives Podcast, I start at the picturesque White Plains Beach on Oahu's southwest side, where the annual competition of the military surf classic is in... Read more...
Vast Lives Podcast: Episode 6 - Ben Faraon
Vast Lives Podcast: Episode 6 - Ben Faraon
In this episode, I had the pleasure of talking to Benjamin Faraon Jr. who is a surfer with so much passion and a barber by profession.  He has chosen Hawaii... Read more...
Vast Lives Podcast: Episode 5 - Jeremy Nitta
Vast Lives Podcast: Episode 5 - Jeremy Nitta
The Journey of a Trickster In episode 05 of the Vast Lives Podcast Steve has a chat with Jeremy Nitta, a fascinating person with varied experiences and a strong love... Read more...
Vast Lives Podcast: Episode 4 - Noa Parrish
Vast Lives Podcast: Episode 4 - Noa Parrish
A Wave of Determination: The Rise of Noa Parrish In the latest installment, I had the opportunity to engage with Noa Parrish, a remarkable 19-year-old who is swiftly carving out... Read more...