This week’s conversation is with Mark Healey, a professional big-wave surfer, award-winning spear-fisherman, free-diver, photographer, filmmaker, and part-time Hollywood stuntman.

Mark’s made no shortage of major achievements in his career as a waterman.

Earning his first surf sponsorship at age 13 and going pro at 17, the 31-year-old has racked up victories at big-wave events like Todos Santos and—in 2008—nabbed the Spearfishing World Cup.

While he’s encountered his share of close calls—from shark attacks to blackouts—Mark thrives on the elements of danger inherent to his work.

And that is a central part of this conversation.

We discuss embracing challenges and why it’s important to face adversity head on rather than run from it.

When you get to that edge, that point where you’re uncomfortable, that’s where you really learn what’s possible for yourself.

Mark is wise beyond his years and I can’t wait for you to learn from him.

“When the waves are really big I have this undeniable sense that I’m doing what I was built for. I can relax. It’s me.”

In This Episode:

• How he describes his profession
• His path to becoming a professional big wave surfer at age 17
• His experience shooting the “Shark Riders” video for a GoPro product launch
• Understanding sharks better: their body language, age, and temperament
• How he got exposed to the water and larger surf
• What it was like growing up broke in Hawaii but right next to a legendary surf break
• The best advice he got from his parents
• What it’s like having other people call him selfish for doing what he loves
• His relationship with embracing the unknown and chaotic environments
• Facing adversity head on vs. running away from it
• What he’s most hungry for
• Why other cultures and remote areas of world fascinate him – specifically Fiji
• How he gets in his own way
• The closest he’s come to death while surfing