Katie McConnell: Paddling Into Death-Defying Waves

What do you do when the thing you love could literally kill you?

This week, Julie and Abby welcome Katie McConnell, one of the top big wave surfers on the planet, an athlete who paddles (or gets towed) into towering walls of water where timing, calm, and judgment are the difference between getting out… or not. Katie explains what a “big wave” really is, the physics and chaos behind places like Nazaré, and why chasing swells is part science, part instinct, and part spiritual relationship with the sea.

Then the conversation turns to a different kind of fight: Katie’s mission to change the system for women in big wave surfing, from uneven invites and costly last-minute travel windows to building a future where women aren’t “included” as an afterthought, but centered in the story. Extreme sport. Ocean obsession. Equality push. Puny humans, giant waves.

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00:00 — Begin

00:38 — Welcome + Julie & Abby Talk Surf Experiences

12:24 — Katie McConnell Intro

14:06 — How Katie Got Into Surfing

17:00 — What Counts as a “Big Wave” + Paddle vs Tow

20:18 — Biggest Waves Katie’s Surfed

20:50 — Why Nazaré Creates Monsters

23:09 — What It Feels Like to Ride One

24:26 — Fear + Risk Management

27:20 — The Fight for Women’s Equality in Big Wave Surfing

32:16 — Making a Living + Sponsorship Reality

33:15 — How the Party People Can Help

36:52 — Closing Thanks + Future of Women’s Big Wave Surfing

39:05 — Post-Interview Debrief: “How Do They Live Like This?”