Have you ever felt stuck in your surfing—not because of your ability, but because of something in your head? Maybe it’s fear, uncertainty in the lineup, or frustration from not progressing the way you want.

In this episode of Confessions of a Surf Lady: The First Women’s Surfing Podcast™, I break down three key mental blocks that could be holding you back from becoming a better surfer—and what you can do about them. We’re talking about fear of bigger waves, confidence in the lineup, and those frustrating moments when you feel stuck without knowing why. Plus, I’ll share a powerful visualization trick that helped me shift my mindset in challenging conditions.

This month inside The Surf Société, we’re focusing on mental strategies to help you move past fear and level up your surfing. If you’ve been struggling with confidence or feeling like you’re hitting a plateau, this episode is for you.

Main Themes

• Confidence in the Lineup
  “If you don’t know how to read the break or where to sit, it’s easy to feel intimidated. The good news? Knowledge builds confidence.” – Laura Day
  Learn how understanding lineup dynamics can help you feel more at ease in crowded breaks.
• Fear of Bigger Waves
  “Your brain sees big waves as danger—but shifting your perspective can change how you react.” – Laura Day
  Discover a simple visualization technique that can help you stay calm and commit in heavier conditions.
• Feeling Stuck Without Knowing Why
  “You don’t know what you don’t know. Sometimes, the smallest piece of missing information is all that’s standing between you and progress.” – Laura Day
  Why having the right guidance can make all the difference in breaking through plateaus.

Resources

• Join The Surf Société: Our March program is all about mental strategies for overcoming fear and boosting confidence in the lineup. Try it free for a week! Join Here.
• Follow Me on Instagram: Say hi and share your experiences at @confessionsofasurflady.

How to Support the Podcast

1. Leave a Review – Help more women surfers find this podcast by rating us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
2. Share with a Friend – If this episode resonated with you, send it to a surf sister who might need it.
3. Join The Surf Société – Get expert guidance, live workshops, and a supportive community to take your surfing to the next level.

Final Thoughts
Fear and mental blocks don’t have to define your surfing. With the right mindset shifts and the right support, you can push past these obstacles and start having more fun in the water. Hit play and let’s get into it!

Send me a Message! Be sure to leave your contact info.

Support the show

Confessions of a Surf Lady, women's surfing podcast, is supported by The Surf Société, our unique digital women's surfing platform where we come together to Learn More. Surf Better. Live Happy. Learn more at Surfsociete.com

What if reconnecting with your feminine intuition could change the way you surf—and the way you live? What if aging, something that is so often feared, was seen as an opportunity to gather wisdom, redefine beauty, and deepen your connection to yourself and the ocean?

This week, I’m stoked to welcome back Leah Donatiello—empowerment mentor, Surf Société Surf Guide, and founder of Reconnect Retreats. You might remember Leah from her episode, Debunking Diet Culture, or as a Nutrition Surf Guide in The Surf Société, where she taught us how to fuel our sessions and stay energized in the lineup. Now, through her Reconnect program, Leah’s helping women tap into their intuition, embrace change, and live more aligned, fulfilling lives.

In this episode of Confessions of a Surf Lady: The First Women’s Surfing Podcast™, Leah and I dissect the power of reconnecting—to yourself, to surfing, and to the unique beauty of aging. We explore how surfing mirrors self-discovery, why redefining beauty is so important, and how to find joy in your evolution as a woman.

If you’ve ever felt unsettled in life, stuck in your surf progress, or resistant to enjoying the process of aging, this conversation will remind you why every stage of life as a woman is worth celebrating.

Main Themes:
Surfing as a Teacher:
“The ocean is a mirror—everything you feel, fear, or strive for will show up in the lineup.” – Leah Donatiello

Intuition and Self-Discovery:
“Your intuition isn’t here to make you comfortable; it’s here to tell you the truth.” – Leah Donatiello

Community and Growth:
"It’s been really amazing to marry my love for surfing with helping women find themselves again. It feels like such a privilege to create spaces where women can feel supported, not just in their surfing but in their personal growth." – Leah Donatiello

Resources:
Reconnect Retreats: Join Leah’s transformative surf and yoga retreats for women ready to reconnect to themselves and the ocean. Learn More Here.

Connect with Leah: Follow Leah on Instagram at @leah.donatiello for updates on her retreats and empowerment mentorship.

The Surf Société: Be part of our global community of surf sisters, offering workshops, mentorship, and stoke! Follow @surfsociete.

Send me a Message! Be sure to leave your contact info.

Support the show

Confessions of a Surf Lady, women's surfing podcast, is supported by The Surf Société, our unique digital women's surfing platform where we come together to Learn More. Surf Better. Live Happy. Learn more at Surfsociete.com

Do you ever tell yourself, “I’m just grateful to be out here,” when deep down, you’re frustrated by how your sessions are going? That was me—not catching as many waves as I wanted, quietly comparing myself to others in the lineup, and telling myself it was okay to just enjoy the sunshine. But the truth was, I wanted more.

In this episode, I’m sharing the moment I realized my “grateful” mindset was actually holding me back, the advice from Surf Société mentor Paul Spooner that completely changed my paddling technique, and how I started doubling my wave count in just one session. If you’ve been stuck in a cycle of shielding yourself from frustration instead of reaching for more, this is your reminder that it’s okay to want more out of your surfing—and your sessions.

Main Themes:

Recognizing Limiting Mindsets:
“I realized I was using gratitude to shield myself from disappointment, but deep down, I wanted more.” – Laura Day
The Power of Technique Over Fitness:
“Don’t ever let fitness be the reason you’re not catching waves—it’s all about technique.” – Paul Spooner
Balancing Gratitude with Ambition:
“You can be grateful for your surf sessions and still want more.” – Laura Day

Resources:

Join The Surf Société: Learn more, surf better, and live happy in our women’s surfing community! This quarter, join our Visualization Blueprint Program to set goals, conquer mental blocks, and master techniques like the paddling drill I learned from Paul. Join Here.

Follow Me on Instagram: Say hi and join the conversation at @confessionsofasurflady.

Send me a Message! Be sure to leave your contact info.

Support the show

Confessions of a Surf Lady, women's surfing podcast, is supported by The Surf Société, our unique digital women's surfing platform where we come together to Learn More. Surf Better. Live Happy. Learn more at Surfsociete.com