Shows
The Lifeguard ProjectAndrew Schmidt: A Deeper Understanding Of Drowning | Ep.12Welcome to this episode of The Lifeguard Project Podcast, where today we interview Dr. Andrew Schmidt. Dr. Schmidt started as a junior lifeguard and progressed through the professional lifeguard ranks at Jacksonville Beach, Florida. He currently serves as an assistant professor in the Department of Emergency Medicine at the University of Florida College of Medicine Jacksonville.He's a medical director of Jacksonville Beach Ocean Rescue, deputy Medical Director of University of Florida Health's Trauma one Flight program, and co-founder of Lifeguards Without Borders, a nonprofit dedicated to international drowning prevention. He's also a board...2025-05-311h 38The Lifeguard ProjectDebbie Friedman: Early Women in Lifeguarding | Ep.11Debbie was one of the first women to step into a lifeguard tower along the Camp Pendleton coast in 1978 and became the first female permanent Peace Officer Lifeguard with California State Parks.Debbie has served as a leader, a mentor, an international lifeguard, and a training instructor. But lifeguarding wasn't just a job for her, Debbie's husband and two kids also followed in her footsteps. Guarding the beaches along many spots in the California coastline. Now, Debbie is writing a book to shine a light on the overlooked stories of the early women lifeguards...2025-05-051h 28
The Lifeguard ProjectExpression Session | S.2 | - Approaching Public Safety Media - CA Water Safety SummitThis mini session provides a brief introduction to the California Water Safety Strategy and focuses on a panel discussion from the CA Water Safety Summit in 2025 about the importance of media in transferring ideas of public safety and drowning prevention. We are all responsible in elevating the standard of lifeguard and safety messaging as we share media and raise the bar in how we transfer ideas and represent ourselves.Thanks for listening!Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-lifeguard-project/donations2025-03-0624 minThe Lifeguard ProjectZoe Chait: Big Waves, Small Waves, and Rescues | Ep. 10Zoe Chait is a California State Parks Lifeguard working in Half Moon Bay, CA. Zoe started as a junior lifeguard and has progressed to lifeguarding professionally along with traveling the world chasing waves and competing. At 18 years old and just a few years of Lifeguard experience under her belt she’s able to offer a very unique perspective on life. Zoe has faced many unique challenges working in Half Moon Bay which is characterized by approximately 50 miles of rocky coastline, dangerous waves and beaches, with minimal resources. It is also home to Mavericks, which happens to be her home su...2025-03-051h 12
The Lifeguard ProjectExpression Session | S.1 | - Tips for the Ben Carlson Lifeguard Scholarship ApplicationWelcome to the first "Expression Session" a Lifeguard Project mini podcast "session" designed for bite sized lifeguard topics and interesting information to fit into your day. We will be featuring all sorts of lifeguard topics and ideas as well as micro-learnings, and much more! Have an idea? Reach out!Topic: Tips on applying for The Ben Carlson Scholarship.This scholarship is for 3 open water lifeguards who will each be awarded $20,000 to help pay for college! Any lifeguard agency in the world is eligible.https://www.bencarlsonfoundation.org/scholarshipDeadline to apply...2025-01-2316 minThe Lifeguard ProjectEd Vodrazka : Lifeguard Stories from the Soul | Ep. 9Ed Vodrazka (Eddie V) is a "lifeguard for life" with an extraordinary 47-year career. Born to immigrant parents in Canada, he became an ocean lifeguard in 1976 and went on to make history as the first paid foreign lifeguard in New Zealand in 1979. Ed’s career spans iconic roles, from California State Lifeguard to a permanent Peace Officer Lifeguard at San Diego’s coast, to working with LA County on Malibu and Zuma beaches. Along the way, he became a Registered Nurse, specializing in cardiology, and taught lifeguard training across the state for over 25 years. He’s personally trained over 6,000 lifegu...2024-12-121h 20The Lifeguard ProjectAlex Shaner : Rescue and Resilience | Ep. 8Alex began his lifeguarding career after playing water polo at the University of the Pacific. Inspired by his brother, a California Parks lifeguard in Santa Cruz, Alex started working as a lifeguard in Santa Cruz in 2013. He quickly became immersed in the ocean community as a lifeguard, surfer, and body surfer, eventually rising to a supervisor role.In March 2017, Alex transferred to North County San Diego. On August 17, 2017, while body surfing during a physical training break, he struck a sandbar and was knocked unconscious. When he regained consciousness, Alex experienced one of the most profound moments of...2024-11-131h 22The Lifeguard ProjectHuntington Beach Fire Chief Scott Haberle : Leadership | Ep. 7Chief Scott Haberle serves as the Fire Chief for the City of Huntington Beach and has a strong track record of effective citywide collaboration resulting in enhanced emergency service delivery and leadership development. His 32-year fire service career has given him a wide variety of experience.Today, Chief Haberle discusses his take on leadership throughout EMS, Fire, and how it all fits into lifeguarding. Frankly speaking this conversation can benefit anyone, in any rank, of any field, as Chief Haberle expands the subject of leadership which can be applied throughout all service based professions.What...2024-10-251h 20The Lifeguard ProjectThe Ben Carlson Day Rescue 2024: Newport Beach Lifeguards | Ep. 6This episode recounts a firsthand point of view from David Villareal, who was rescued by the Newport Beach Lifeguard's after being sucked out by a strong rip current. The rescue happened on July 6, 2024, the 10 year anniversary of the death of Ben Carlson, a Newport Beach Lifeguard who died in the line of duty while making a rescue. July 6, 2024 brought a heat wave with large swell and massive beach crowds to Newport Beach, CA. David was caught rip current, struggling to stay afloat, when the quick actions of lifeguards on the Sea Watch Rescue Vessel were able to...2024-09-281h 00The Lifeguard ProjectLifeguards for Life (Part 2): Mike Silvestri and Mike Brousard | Ep. 5This conversation represents over 100 years of lifeguarding experience in a single room discussing virtually every aspect of lifeguarding. Mike Silvestri (Mestri) and Mike Brousard (Bruiser) are career lifeguards who began lifeguarding in California in the 1970's. They have been intimately involved in the profession and bring a whole new meaning to what it means to be "Lifeguards for Life"."The Mikes" discuss everything from the early days of lifeguarding, how the job has changed, rescues, junior lifeguards, the first female lifeguards, and some of their best and worst days at work. This conversation is highly inspirational from...2024-08-161h 08The Lifeguard ProjectLifeguards for Life (Part 1): Mike Silvestri and Mike Brousard | Ep. 5This conversation represents over 100 years of lifeguarding experience in a single room discussing virtually every aspect of lifeguarding. Mike Silvestri (Mestri) and Mike Brousard (Bruiser) are career lifeguards who began lifeguarding in California in the 1970's. They have been intimately involved in the profession and bring a whole new meaning to what it means to be "Lifeguards for Life"."The Mikes" discuss everything from the early days of lifeguarding, how the job has changed, rescues, junior lifeguards, the first female lifeguards, and some of their best and worst days at work. This conversation is highly inspirational from...2024-08-161h 24The Lifeguard ProjectDr. Chris Lowe : Shark Lab Director | Ep. 4"Hey Lifeguard, are there sharks out there?!" Dr. Chris Lowe, a distinguished figure in marine biology and the Director of the Shark Lab at California State University, Long Beach. He brings over 35 years of expertise in studying sharks, rays, and bony fishes, focusing on their behavior, physiology, and ecology. For the past 15 years, he and his students have delved into the world of juvenile white sharks along the southern California coast. Utilizing cutting-edge technology and educational tools, Dr. Lowe and his team collaborate closely with lifeguards and the public to demystify the lives of sharks and clarify...2024-07-251h 09The Lifeguard ProjectMark Cunningham : North Shore Lifeguard and Renowned Bodysurfer | Ep. 3Mark Cunningham is a retired North Shore Lifeguard of 30 years, spending a majority of his career guarding the infamous surf break "Pipeline" at 'Ehukai Beach Park, Hawaii. Mark is well known for his contributions and accomplishments in the world of bodysurfing. Mark and I discuss his early roots in becoming a lifeguard, bodysurfing, lifeguarding on the North Shore, and how it has all shaped his life.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-lifeguard-project/donations2024-06-221h 06The Lifeguard ProjectSharon Mckeeman: Perspectives of A "Lifeguard Mom" | Ep. 2Sharon McKeeman is a mother, military spouse, author, and visual and performing artist. She has lived in Southern California with her husband, three sons, and daughter for almost 15 years. As a mother who came to learn about the ocean later in life, Sharon shares her perspective on the healing and relentlessness of the ocean which developed from watching her sons participate in junior lifeguard programs. Sharon shares stories of her own loss which led to signing up her sons in Junior Lifeguards in order to create a safe environment for them to learn about the ocean.Sharon...2024-06-171h 02The Lifeguard ProjectDr. William Koon : Expanding Evidence for the Prevention of Coastal Drowning | Ep. 1Dr. Will Koon is a beach Lifeguard from California who recently completed a dissertation titled "Expanding the Evidence Base for Coastal Drowning Prevention". Will currently works as the National Manager of Drowning Prevention Strategy for Royal Lifesaving Australia. Drowning is recognized as one of the leading causes of accidental death internationally and we have little data to be able to direct the needed behavior changes to prevent it. Drowning is defined as "the process of experiencing respiratory impairment from submersion or immersion in liquid" and has outcomes of being fatal, non-fatal, and non-fatal with morbidity (lasting health...2024-05-301h 45The Lifeguard ProjectIntroducing The Lifeguard ProjectWelcome to The Lifeguard Project where we discuss the often misrepresented professional rescue work of Lifeguards. The project is aimed to educate and inspire while also speaking on topics regarding water safety as well as the global issues of drowning. That means almost any conversation regarding the ocean or water is on the table.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-lifeguard-project/donations2024-05-2800 min
The Mark Schulein Passion Project#12 Drasko Bogdanovic + The Lifeguard Project: Lifeguard, EMS, Stud, & Founder of The Lifeguard ProjectDrasko’s passion for public safety and serving the public is crystal clear and has inspired and driven him to focus on educating the public and shining a bright light on the importance and the under-recognized value and responsibilities of ocean lifeguards. The Lifeguard Project has partnered with the Ben Carlson Foundation to widen the reach of this imperative campaign. This is a must listen. Drasko; thank you for your passion and determination to serve.2024-02-271h 19