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PODCAST

The Lifeguard Project

Drasko Bogdanovic

Presented by the Ben Carlson Foundation:The Lifeguard Project discusses a serious rescue profession which is often misrepresented. It aims to educate and inspire through showcasing innately captivating experiences of lifeguards which invoke a unique awareness of life. You dont have to be a lifegaurd to enjoy these conversations which are aimed at inspiring future generations, improving the perception of lifeguarding, and facilitating perspective for the better.Any conversation is on the table which

society & culture documentary

All Episodes

23:11

| R.1 | Rescue Testimonial | Caught in a Rip Current...

The Lifeguard Project ·

2025/09/20

This Rescue Testimonial from Emily Eisenberg explains how she got into trouble and finally rescued from a rip current in Manhattan Beach in Los Angeles County on September 20th, 2020.Emily has a swimming background and very knowledgable about contacting lifeguards and approaching the beach safely. This day when there was less staffing, she found herself taking a dip and getting caught in a rip current with her friend. She expresses her feelings of shame and nervousness to ask for help from a surfer,

en-US

9:03

| S.4 | Expression Session: "Red Isn't Armor" by:...

The Lifeguard Project ·

2025/09/10

Red Isn't Armor is an article by Podcast host Drasko Bogdanovic published in Wilderness Medicine Magazine regarding the misunderstood nature of lifeguarding, mental health, and drowning. You can find the article online to reference some of the photos included.https://wms.org/magazine/magazine/1574/Red-Isn-t-Armor/default.aspxDrasko Bogdanovic is a California State Parks Ocean Lifeguard, Flight Paramedic, and photographer with a focus in prehospital care, aquatic rescue, and drowning prevention

en-US

119:57

| Ep.16 | John Carpenter: 100 years of Newport Beach...

The Lifeguard Project ·

2025/09/09

Welcome to this episode of the Lifeguard Project Podcast, where I interview Newport Beach, lifeguard John Carpenter. John started as a YAP or Youth Employment Program in 1969 and has served with the Newport Beach Lifeguard Service for 50 years, from 1970 to 2020. During his time, he had certain accolades like training instructor for the Rookie Training Academy Lifeguard of the Year in 1985.Cadet program coordinator, all American swimmer at Costa Mesa High School in 1971, Orange Coast College

en-US

82:00

Mike Martino: Pioneers of the Sonoma Coast | Ep. 15

The Lifeguard Project ·

2025/08/28

Welcome to this episode of The Lifeguard Project Podcast, where today I interview Mike Martino. Mike is a California State Parks lifeguard who started as a seasonal and throughout his career, worked his way up all the way to the aquatic specialist or chief lifeguard of California State Parks. Not only is he a lifeguard for life, but he also has become quite a lifeguard historian and represent some of the early lifeguard pioneers who made their way up in the Sonoma coastline in the north of

en-US

70:57

David Rodriguez: Watchtower and Lifeguard Data | Ep.14

The Lifeguard Project ·

2025/08/20

Welcome to this episode of the Lifeguard Project Podcast, where I interviewed David Rodriguez. David is one of the early founders of Watchtower, a digital command center for Lifeguards. Watchtower is a mobile platform that's tailored to every agency's needs as far as rescue's, data, end of your reports, and a lot of other techy kind of stuff.We won't get into the details here. I'll let David do the explaining in this episode. However, if you haven't seen Watchtower heard

en-US

10:17

Expression Session | S.3 | More Than A Summer Job :...

The Lifeguard Project ·

2025/08/19

Kalia Chalom is a 2nd year San Diego City Lifeguard. She submitted this essay to The Lifeguard Project and I encouraged her to record her essay "More Than a Summer Job" because it is so powerful. It encapsulates an inspirational take on the lifeguard culture and simplifies the lifeguard condition. Listen along as she reads her very own words which tread softly but strike deep chords about what it means to be a lifeguard. Goosebumps and tears incoming.You can find the essay along with more of

en-US

65:39

Spencer Pirdy: Lifeguarding, Life, and the BEN DID GO...

The Lifeguard Project ·

2025/08/12

Spencer Pirdy grew up in Newport Beach, CA and was a Newport Beach lifeguard. Spencer met Ben Carlson working with the Newport Beach Lifeguards and shares how he became one of his early influences around lifeguarding, along with witnessing his older brother Travis Pirdy making rescues.On top of being a professional surfer and just an all-around good guy, Spencer sits on the board of the Ben Carlson Foundation. Spencer organizes the Ben Carson memorial paddle, which is a 30 mile paddle him to raise

en-US

98:43

Andrew Schmidt: A Deeper Understanding Of Drowning |...

The Lifeguard Project ·

2025/05/31

Welcome 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

en-US

88:55

Debbie Friedman: Early Women in Lifeguarding | Ep.11

The Lifeguard Project ·

2025/05/05

Debbie 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

en-US

24:05

Expression Session | S.2 | - Approaching Public...

The Lifeguard Project ·

2025/03/06

This 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 —

en-US

72:52

Zoe Chait: Big Waves, Small Waves, and Rescues | Ep. 10

The Lifeguard Project ·

2025/03/05

Zoe 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

en-US

16:10

Expression Session | S.1 | - Tips for the Ben Carlson...

The Lifeguard Project ·

2025/01/23

Welcome 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

en-US

80:44

Ed Vodrazka : Lifeguard Stories from the Soul | Ep. 9

The Lifeguard Project ·

2024/12/12

Ed 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

en-US

82:56

Alex Shaner : Rescue and Resilience | Ep. 8

The Lifeguard Project ·

2024/11/13

Alex 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

en-US

80:51

Huntington Beach Fire Chief Scott Haberle :...

The Lifeguard Project ·

2024/10/25

Chief 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

en-US

60:33

The Ben Carlson Day Rescue 2024: Newport Beach...

The Lifeguard Project ·

2024/09/28

This 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

en-US

68:57

Lifeguards for Life (Part 2): Mike Silvestri and Mike...

The Lifeguard Project ·

2024/08/16

This 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

en-US

84:20

Lifeguards for Life (Part 1): Mike Silvestri and Mike...

The Lifeguard Project ·

2024/08/16

This 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

en-US

69:05

Dr. Chris Lowe : Shark Lab Director | Ep. 4

The Lifeguard Project ·

2024/07/25

"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

en-US

66:56

Mark Cunningham : North Shore Lifeguard and Renowned...

The Lifeguard Project ·

2024/06/22

Mark 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.

en-US

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